JACKSON, Miss – The Office of the Mississippi Secretary of State has opened investigations into two of the nation’s largest proxy advisory firms, Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS) and Glass Lewis.

The Securities Division is investigating whether the firms are recommending votes for climate-related shareholder proposals which do not enhance or protect shareholder value. The promotion of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors would be in direct violation of their fiduciary duty and conflict with previous statements issued by the companies.

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

In-Person Absentee Voting

Municipal Clerk's Offices will be open this Saturday, May 24, from 8:00 a.m. until noon for in-person absentee voting for the Municipal General Election.

The last day to vote in-person absentee is Saturday, May 31. Municipal Clerk's Offices will be open from 8:00 a.m. until noon.

JACKSON, Miss. – The Secretary of State's Office has launched a new map of Tax-Forfeited Inventory on the Tax-Forfeited Lands webpage. Accessible on desktop or mobile devices, this resource provides a streamlined process for the public to explore and evaluate tax-forfeited properties.

JACKSON, Miss. – In an effort to enhance the Secretary of State's accessibility and efficiency, Secretary Michael Watson has announced the launch of a new elections resource "TextMyGov." 

Utilizing smart technology, Mississippi voters may now access important election information and report issues via text message.

By texting "HI" to (601) 586-7600, users can initiate a conversation with the Secretary of State’s Office to solicit guidance on a variety of topics.

JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi's 2025 Municipal General Election Day is less than one week away. The June 3 ballot features municipal offices across the state.

Polls for the Municipal General Election will open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. Any voter in line at 7:00 p.m. is legally entitled to cast a ballot.

JACKSON, Miss. – The Secretary of State's Office urges Mississippians to be cautious of fraudulent business filings due to the uptick of complaints to our office. 

Scammers are utilizing another person's name, address, or other personal information to create a fraudulent business entity.

Please note that in most instances, once the business documents are filed with our office, we are unable to adjust any information contained within the filing or remove from public record per statute.

JACKSON, Miss. – Applicants who register in-person in the Circuit Clerk’s Office and those who mail registration applications post-marked no later than July 7, 2025, are eligible to vote in the Special Primary Election on August 5, 2025.

JACKSON, Miss. – Secretary of State Michael Watson and the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Securities Division, a member of the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), have joined a multi-state, multimillion-dollar settlement following an investigation into five investment firms.

Seven months into the new presidential administration, Americans are able to easily identify the numerous laws and changes the Trump Administration has enacted. Whether you're a fan or not, the restoration of law and order and emphasis on America and her people highlight the underlying theme of this Administration's efforts.

However, whether there is a Republican or Democrat in the White House, my goal has, and will always be, to follow the law.

JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Secretary of State's Office has partnered with Experian® to bring a new level of reliable data for county election commissioners to utilize in maintaining Mississippi’s voter rolls.

For many years, Mississippi has relied mainly on the National Change of Address (NCOA) information from the United States Postal Service to identify voters who have moved.