JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi Secretary Of State Michael Watson and the Secretary of State's Securities Division, a member of the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), have joined a $17 million settlement with Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. (Edward Jones) resulting from an investigation into the broker-dealer’s supervision of customers paying front-load commissions for Class A mutual fund shares in light of later moving brokerage assets into fee-based investment advisory accounts.

JACKSON, Miss. – As a reminder, Mississippians need to be aware of upcoming important dates and deadlines.

Qualifying Deadline

The qualifying deadline for party primary and independent candidates for municipal offices is Friday, January 31, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. 

JACKSON, Miss. – Secretary of State Michael Watson joined a taskforce of state securities regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a $106 million settlement with Vanguard Marketing Corporation (VMC) and The Vanguard Group, Inc. (Vanguard) for failing to supervise certain registered persons and failing to disclose potential tax consequences to investors following a change in investment minimums for certain target date retirement funds. 

JACKSON, Miss. – Absentee ballot applications are now available in municipal clerks' offices for the Municipal Primary Election on April 1, 2025. Absentee ballots will be available starting February 18, 2025.

JACKSON, Miss. – Secretary of State Michael Watson urges Mississippians to be aware of the increasing risks of investment scams and the consequences they have on their victims.

"Our office has continued to see an uptick in securities-related scams, and we encourage Mississippians to do their due diligence to research any entity requesting money. With the ever-changing landscape of technology including cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, we must remain vigilant," said Secretary Michael Watson.

JACKSON, Miss. – Secretary of State Michael Watson and the Securities Division of the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office announce Mississippi investors may begin filing claims for investments with GSB Gold Standard Corporation AG and GSB Gold Standard Pay, Ltd., collectively referred to as “GSB” or “GS Partners.”

The claims process is part of a framework for settlement between the Securities Division, GS Partners, and its Chairman of the Board Josip Heit.

JACKSON, Miss. – Secretary of State Michael Watson and the Mississippi Secretary of State's Office are seeking high school seniors with a passion for leadership and state government to apply for the agency's 2025-2026 SOS Student Ambassador Program. The program aims to increase voter education and registration among youth and encourage students to engage in Mississippi civics.

JACKSON, Miss. – In-person and mail-in absentee ballots are now available in municipal clerks' offices for the Municipal Primary Election on April 1, 2025.

JACKSON, Miss. – Secretary of State Michael Watson paid tribute to eight poll workers who have served Mississippi for over 50 years during a special presentation at the State Capitol on Thursday.

Submitted by their county circuit clerk or election commissioner, each poll worker was presented with a certificate of appreciation acknowledging their longstanding years of public service.

JACKSON, Miss. – Municipal Clerks' offices will be open from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, 2025, for in-person voter registration for the Municipal Primary Election.

Applicants who register in-person in the Municipal Clerk's Office or Circuit Clerk's Office and those who mail registration applications post-marked no later than Monday, March 3, 2025, are eligible to vote in the Municipal Primary Election on April 1, 2025.