Skip to content
Democracy SENTRY
Voting in your state

Voting in Mississippi, 2026

Every date and deadline for the November 3 general election, from registering to the final certificate, and who signs off on the result.

Right nowElection Day in Mississippi is Tuesday, November 3.Election Day in 7 days

Every date, in order

  1. Mon, Oct 5 · passed
    Registration deadline
    Register by Monday October 5, 2026, since the 30-day deadline falls on a Sunday and moves to the next business day.1
  2. Tue, Nov 3 · 7 days
    Election Day
  3. Tue, Nov 10 · 14 days
    Mail ballots must arrive
    Mail ballots postmarked by Election Day count if received within 5 business days, by Tuesday November 10, 2026.1
  4. Fri, Nov 13 · 17 days
    County/Local canvass; County/Local certification
    Counties canvass within ten days of the election, by November 13.2
  5. Mon, Nov 23 · 27 days
    Deadline to contest the result
    A contest must be filed within 20 days after the election, by November 23, 2026.3
  6. Thu, Dec 3 · 37 days
    State canvass; State certification
    The statewide canvass is complete within 30 days of the election, by December 3.2

Questions people ask about voting in Mississippi

Q. Can I vote early in Mississippi?

Mississippi doesn't have early voting; it does have early in-person absentee voting, but only for eligible voters (ie: military, disabled, etc.)

Q. When is the deadline to register to vote in Mississippi?

Register by Monday October 5, 2026, since the 30-day deadline falls on a Sunday and moves to the next business day.

Q. What is the last day to request a mail ballot in Mississippi?

No fixed deadline to request a mail absentee ballot, but recommend requesting at least 7 days before Election Day.

Q. When does my mail ballot have to arrive in Mississippi?

Mail ballots postmarked by Election Day count if received within 5 business days, by Tuesday November 10, 2026.

Q. Who certifies the election in Mississippi, and by when?

The county election commission--consisting of five members, each elected from a supervisor district--tabulates the county canvass and sends it to the Secretary of State. County results are due ten days after the election, November 13, 2026. The Secretary of State certifies the winner of federal races and the Governor issues certificates to the winning candidate. The Secretary of State declares the winners immediately after receiving the returns but no later than 30 days after the election, December 3, 2026.

Q. What happens after the count in Mississippi, and when is there a recount?

No specific recount laws

Q. How long is there to contest an election in Mississippi?

A contest must be filed within 20 days after the election, by November 23, 2026.

Explore this issue

OverviewVoting in your state In depthVoting in Minnesota, 2026 In depthVoting in Michigan, 2026 In depthVoting in Massachusetts, 2026 In depthVoting in Maryland, 2026 In depthVoting in Maine, 2026 In depthVoting in Louisiana, 2026 In depthVoting in Kentucky, 2026 In depthVoting in Kansas, 2026 In depthVoting in Iowa, 2026 In depthVoting in Indiana, 2026 In depthVoting in Illinois, 2026 In depthVoting in Idaho, 2026

Sources

  1. Vote.org, Mississippi Election Center, https://www.vote.org/state/mississippi/
  2. NCSL, Canvass Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/canvass-deadlines
  3. NCSL, Contested Election Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/contested-election-deadlines
  4. nass.org, https://www.nass.org/node/2455
  5. boltsmag.org, https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/who-counts-our-elections/
  6. NCSL, Election Certification Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/election-certification-deadlines

Ask

Have a question about voting in Mississippi?

Ask it here. If we do not have the answer yet, we will find it.