JACKSON --- Ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, Secretary of State Michael Watson joins fellow members of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) in the #TrustedInfo2022 education effort to encourage citizens to look to their state and local election officials as the trusted sources of election information.

JACKSON – Secretary of State Michael Watson partners with local and national leaders to continue his mission of making Mississippi one of the most job-friendly states in the country. The Secretary debuted his office's comprehensive plan to review the state's hundreds of thousands of occupational licensing regulations during a press conference in the Capitol Wednesday.

JACKSON –  Election Day is in full swing! So far, calls to our Election Hotline have been steady, with most calls relating to polling place changes, voter registration, and masks at polling places. As a reminder, no voter should be denied the right to vote for not wearing a face mask. 

JACKSON –  Polls for the 2020 General Election closed at 7 p.m. As a reminder, any voter in line at 7 p.m. is entitled to cast a ballot. 

"I'm a firm believer in giving credit where credit is due, and today, the heroes include our Elections Division, Circuit Clerks, Election Commissioners and Poll Managers who went above and beyond to deliver an exceptional performance during unprecedented times," said Secretary Watson. 

JACKSON – As of Sunday, October 25, 2020, the Statewide Election Management System (SEMS) reported a total of 169,087 absentee ballots requested, 165,846 absentee ballots sent, and 142,591 absentee ballots received in the state of Mississippi for the 2020 General Election. 

JACKSON - Hurricane Zeta made landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday, October 28, 2020, causing damage and massive power outages along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. With the in-person absentee voting deadline quickly approaching and Election Day right around the corner, our office is working diligently to ensure local county officials have access to the help they need.

JACKSON – Secretary Michael Watson presented Greene County native Tyler Packer the National Association of Secretaries of State’s (NASS) John Lewis Youth Leadership Award during a special ceremony in the Capitol Wednesday. This award was created in 2021 as a way for NASS members to recognize a gifted, civic-minded young person in their state each year. Mississippi State University (MSU) Vice President for Student Affairs, Regina Hyatt, nominated Packer for his outstanding leadership and mentorship while serving as MSU's student body president.

JACKSON – As of Sunday, November 1, 2020, the Statewide Election Management System (SEMS) reported a total of 248,335 absentee ballots requested, 247,650 absentee ballots sent, and 231,031 absentee ballots received in the state of Mississippi for the 2020 General Election. 

JACKSON – Materials for the Secretary of State’s 2020 Promote the Vote (PTV) program are now available online at www.sos.ms.gov/PTV. PTV is the Secretary of State’s comprehensive K-12 voter education program that consists of a statewide mock election, an essay contest, and an art contest.

House Bills 1521 and 824 (Laws of 2020, Regular Session) authorized the Secretary of State’s Office to develop administrative rules with regard to absentee voting and polling place safety. Our office adopted rules that ensure absentee ballots are considered a voter’s final vote. In the event a ballot is rejected due to a signature mismatch, the voter is given an opportunity to cure the rejection in accordance with the administrative rules. In addition, the newly-adopted rules provide regulations concerning safety for in-person voting.