The elections landscaping is steadily changing, and often, with change comes confusion. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted several changes to state election laws and voting procedures, leaving many voters unsure about how, when, and where to cast their ballot for the 2020 General Election. While presidential elections are a national conversation, it is important to remember elections are administered at the local level with different laws in place for each state. Mississippians must stay vigilant when it comes to election information and prepare accordingly before hitting the polls.

The month of September brings many exciting activities including football games, pep rallies, tailgating, and fellowship with family and friends.

Since becoming Mississippi’s 36th Secretary of State, my perspective on this beloved fall month has uniquely shifted though, as it also represents National Voter Registration Month (NVRM).

NVRM was established in 2002 by members of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) as a non-partisan means of encouraging voter participation and increasing awareness about state requirements and deadlines for voting.

Recently, there has been plenty of discussion regarding the role of state government in higher education. While this lengthy debate has caused quite an uproar, the fundamental question remains: “What is the proper role of government?”

As a limited government conservative, it is my belief this basic question should be applied in all policy discussions. While this conservative viewpoint may not be politically expedient, it remains the premise for my decision-making and the foundation for my team’s work, including the creation of initiatives like Tackle the Tape.

Since taking office as Mississippi’s 36th Secretary of State, following three terms in the Mississippi Senate, safeguarding Mississippi elections has remained a priority.

As I discussed at the Neshoba County Fair last summer, the need for campaign finance reform in Mississippi is serious, and the most recent election cycle has further highlighted this reality. Whether reporting mechanisms or accountability in reporting, this hotly contested topic is one all Mississippians should follow, and more importantly, understand.

Coming into the Secretary of State’s Office in 2020, I understood from my time in the Senate there is no better place to lead a movement for regulation reform than right here in Mississippi. Being the most regulated state in the Southeast, Mississippi needed a new approach to regulation much like America in 1980 when President Ronald Reagan took office.

Since sounding the alarm in March on the Biden Administration’s efforts (Executive Order 14019) to turn federal agencies into get-out-the-vote arms to bolster voter registration and participation via unlawful means, many other conservative leaders around the country have joined our fight to push back against federal overreach in elections.

There continues to be an increase of focus on the causes and effects of the "brain drain" on Mississippi's youth.  This includes an oversaturation of data attempting to quantify the issues and solutions. While I enjoying “wonking” out on policy with the best wonks, the more I consider this topic, the more I believe the answer starts with something very simple.

With my second term as Secretary of State well underway, it's important to ensure Mississippians are aware of the work we have accomplished on their behalf. More importantly, it has become increasingly apparent small business owners and consumers across the state have recognized they have an advocate at the Secretary of State's Office.

When Benjamin Franklin was once asked what type of government the Constitutional Convention adopted, his cautionary response was, “A republic, if you can keep it.”