By MDA Staff Writer | September 28, 2026
MISSISSIPPI DELTA — Mississippi Delta residents who are not registered to vote have one week remaining to become eligible to cast a ballot in the November general election.
The voter registration deadline is Monday, Oct. 5, according to the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office.
Mississippians who register in person or submit a voter registration application postmarked by Oct. 5 will be eligible to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
The approaching deadline comes as absentee voting is already underway across Mississippi.
Eligible voters can cast an in-person absentee ballot through their county Circuit Clerk’s Office. Unlike states that offer no-excuse early voting, Mississippi requires voters to meet an eligibility requirement to vote absentee.
Residents who are uncertain whether they qualify are encouraged to contact their Circuit Clerk.
This year also brings a change to the in-person absentee process.
According to the Secretary of State’s Office, eligible voters casting an absentee ballot in person will continue to use a paper ballot, but instead of sealing that ballot in an envelope, voters will feed it directly into a voting machine.
Those ballots will not be tabulated until election night.
Mississippi’s mail-in absentee process remains unchanged.
For voters unable to visit a Circuit Clerk’s Office during normal weekday hours, two Saturday voting opportunities are scheduled.
Circuit Clerk offices will be open from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday, Oct. 24, and again Saturday, Oct. 31, for eligible in-person absentee voters.
Oct. 31 is the final day to vote absentee in person.
Mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day, Nov. 3.
The Secretary of State’s Office also provides an online election portal where voters can check registration information, locate their polling place and view election information associated with their address.
Residents who have moved since they last voted should also check their information before Election Day rather than waiting until they arrive at the polls.
Mississippi requires voters to present an acceptable form of photo identification when voting in person.
Registered voters who do not have another acceptable form of identification can obtain a Mississippi Voter Identification Card at no charge through a Circuit Clerk’s Office.
The Nov. 3 ballot includes federal, judicial and other races depending on where a voter lives.
For Delta residents who still need to register, the most immediate date is Oct. 5.
After that deadline, an unregistered voter will not be able to register at the polls on Election Day.
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Source: Mississippi Secretary of State — official voter registration information