JACKSON, Miss. - Due to recent legislative changes, Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson is providing clarification regarding the vote requirements used to determine winners for elected offices across the state.

Mississippi law requires some offices to be won by a majority vote, meaning a candidate must receive more than 50 percent of the votes cast. While other offices are decided by a plurality vote, meaning the candidate receiving the highest number of votes is elected regardless of whether that candidate receives more than 50 percent.

The Secretary of State’s Office has compiled a reference document outlining the majority or plurality requirement for all offices elected in Mississippi.

Click here to view the reference document

“Ensuring Mississippi voters and election officials have clear, straightforward information about how our elections are decided is imperative,” said Secretary Michael Watson. “The requirements are not the same for every office, so we want to make sure candidates, election officials, and voters have trusted information prior to Election Day.”