JACKSON, Miss — Secretary of State Michael Watson honored K-12 students and teachers during a special awards ceremony at the Two Mississippi Museums Thursday morning. The event honored 45 student winners and their teachers from across the state, and marked the conclusion of the 2023 Promote the Vote (PTV) program, the longstanding voter education effort consisting of mock elections, contests, and elections curriculum.

This year’s theme “Voting! The Power to Change the Future!” encouraged students to realize the impact voting has for today and generations to come. 

JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson is pleased to announce a virtual Mississippi Businesses Against Trafficking (MBAT) Summit to be held on Tuesday, April 9 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

In collaboration with the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI), this virtual event will feature leading experts on the crime of labor trafficking. 

JACKSON, Miss. – On March 26, 2024, Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson and the Securities Division of the Secretary of State’s Office issued a Summary Cease and Desist Order and Notice of Intent to Impose Administrative Penalty against BlackRock, Inc., a multinational investment company and the world's largest asset manager. 

JACKSON, Miss. – After receiving all certified results for the March Primary Election, the Secretary of State's Office announces a runoff will be held for the Second Congressional District's republican nominee.

Ron Eller and Andrew Scott Smith are the two individuals who will appear on the ballot for the Tuesday, April 2 Primary Runoff Election Day.

In-person absentee voting is currently underway at circuit clerks' offices with a deadline of Saturday, March 30 at 12:00 p.m.

JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi's Primary Runoff Election Day is almost here for the Second Congressional District. The April 2 ballot features a runoff for the Republican nominee.

 
Candidates Ron Eller and Andrew Scott Smith will appear on Tuesday's ballot.

As a reminder, only those who cast a republican ballot or did not vote in the primary election may vote in the Republican primary runoff.

JACKSON, Miss. – The Securities Division of the Mississippi Secretary of State's Office has finalized the adoption of new rules to reduce red tape on investment professionals through the implementation of the new Exam Validity Extension Program (EVEP).

Through EVEP, currently registered broker-dealer agents and investment advisor representatives will have the opportunity to extend state qualification exams for up to five (5) years if compliant with continuing education requirements.

In a joint letter with Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson submitted an official request to the Mississippi and Alabama congressional delegations to repeal the Corporate Transparency Act which increases the regulatory burden on small businesses nationwide.

The letter outlines the errors within the policy in addition to the lack of cooperation and effective implementation from the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

JACKSON, Miss — After a competitive application process, Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson is proud to announce the 2024-2025 class of Secretary of State (SOS) Student Ambassadors.

The Ambassador program equips high school seniors with the knowledge and resources to engage as leaders within their schools and communities. This year's group of Ambassadors consists of 70 students from 42 schools in 31 counties across all four congressional districts.

JACKSON, Miss – Campaign finance reports for all judicial candidates and political action committees which have received contributions or made expenditures in support or opposition of judicial candidates are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 10, 2024.
Candidates may submit reports via:

JACKSON, Miss. – Secretary of State Michael Watson is proud to announce the agency's newest resource "Move to Mississippi" on the Y'all Business website.