Mississippians have less than a month to register to vote in this year's general election, as voter outreach efforts intensify across the state ahead of Election Day. Civic organizations, student groups and national leaders are urging residents to confirm their voter registration status and make a plan to cast their ballots.
Kobee Vance
Mississippi voters face Oct. 5 registration deadline as groups ramp up election outreach
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A full list of election deadlines can be found at YallVote.MS
Mississippi voters must be registered by Oct. 5 to cast ballots in the November general election. Beginning Sept. 12, Mississippians can pick up absentee ballots from their local Circuit Clerk’s office.
To engage with voters, the Congressional Black Caucus is launching a new Go Vote campaign to engage with voters in key districts across the nation, as well as the entire state of Mississippi.
South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn, an influential South Carolina Democrat who decried the lackluster voter turnout in the 2024 election, said that starts with grassroots engagement.
“We need to get people who live in these communities, who understand the culture in the communities, who know how to interact with the people in these communities and help them turn out to vote,” said Clyburn.
The movement will focus less on traditional television advertising in favor of working with local civic groups, houses of worship, fraternities and sororities. Additionally, they will use targeted digital advertising to reach specific areas through geofencing.
At Jackson State University on Tuesday, members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated held a voter registration event to meet students and answer questions.
Michelle Guy, president of the Beta Delta Omega Chapter, said students need to know their voting locations before Election Day and their right to vote in the City of Jackson because of their status as students.
"These are our next leaders that we are preparing for here at Jackson State, so it is important for them to be involved and know the process and know that their voice matters," Guy said.
JSU Freshman Cole Kayira is updating his registration status from his hometown of St. Louis to his new home at Jackson State.
“I’m excited about the whole process and everything. It’ll be a first-time [voting] experience, so I can’t wait,” Kayira said.
The sorority also held voter registration at Tougaloo College on Wednesday as part of its effort to engage students in Jackson.
The first day voters can cast an in-person absentee ballot is on October 9, and all mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by election day.
Ballots can be received up to 5 days after an election by county Circuit Clerk’s offices.
More information about elections can be found online at YallVote.MS.
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