A candidate shall be a qualified elector of the district in which election is sought, and have a high school diploma or its equivalent.Must be a resident of the district in which he/she seeks election for two (2) years preceding the day of election. Miss. Const. of1890, Art. XII, §250; Miss. Code §§ 37-7-306, 23-15-300.

All candidates file a Statement of Intent and petition containing the signatures of not less than 50 qualified electors of the district with the Circuit Clerk.  If there are less than one hundred (100) qualified electors of the area to be represented, the petition must contain the signatures of not less than 20% of the qualified electors of the area. No qualifying fee is paid.