This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
- Home
- ‹
- Civic Engagement
Civic Engagement
Civic engagement is an essential part of strong communities, as it allows people to take an active role in making their home a better place, and can help individuals build a sense of belonging.
There are many different ways you can help your community and amplify your voice through civic engagement, including:
- Volunteering in your neighborhood
- Contacting your representatives
- Voting in elections
- Making donations
- Community organizing
-
How to Register to Vote in Mississippi – The Voter’s Handbook
channel: Mississippi Public Broadcasting
RUNNING TIME: 00:01:05 -
-
Get Answers:
In Mississippi, you’ll need to register to vote at your Circuit Clerk’s office, your Municipal Clerk’s office, at the Department of Public Safety when you get your driver’s license, or by filling out a voter registration form and mailing it to your Circuit Clerk. You can find the voter registration form here and more information on voting here.
In the state of Mississippi, you will need one of the following forms of Photo ID to vote:
- A driver’s license (including a Digital ID provided by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety)
- A photo ID card issued by a branch, department, or entity of the State of Mississippi
- A United States passport
- A government employee ID card
- A firearms license
- A student photo ID issued by an accredited Mississippi university, college, or community/junior college
- A United States military ID
- A tribal photo ID
- Any other photo ID issued by any branch, department, agency or entity of the United States government or any State government
- A Mississippi Voter Identification Card
You can access specific criteria for absentee voting eligibility here.
Mississippi is currently involved in a legal struggle regarding whether or not the state can permanently strip certain felons of voting rights. The felonies which previously prevented those convicted from voting can be found here. As of August 4, 2023, however, two out of three judges on the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel ordered the Mississippi Secretary of State to stop enforcing this provision. Some Mississippi attorneys have pushed back, asking for a reconsideration. More information and future updates can be found here.
You can type in your residential address and find your local polling place here, though it is recommended that you confirm this information with the Circuit Clerk for your county. You can contact the Hinds County Circuit Clerk by calling (601)968-6628, or the Elections Hotline at 1-800-829-6786.
In short, a voter registration drive is an event where a group of volunteers encourage residents of their state to register to vote by filling out a voter registration form. The volunteers ensure that these forms are completed and deliver them to the correct Circuit Clerk’s office. For more information on how to host a voter registration drive, see the Voter Registration Drive Organizer Toolkit: https://www.sos.ms.gov/content/documents/Elections/VoterRegistrationToolkit.pdf.
You can reach your representatives by phone call, handwritten letter, or email, depending on the impact you want to make. When writing your representative, it is recommended that you focus on one issue at a time, share the personal importance this issue holds for you, and any relevant, credible data that can back up your perspective. More guidance and information on communicating with your representative can be found here: https://guides.lib.berkeley.edu/ContactingOfficials/Tips.