September is here, which means it’s National Voter Registration Month as secretaries of state across the country encourage residents to exercise their civic duty.
Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson announced Tuesday that he has again joined fellow members of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) in promoting the importance of voting and keeping voter registration information up to date.
“The right to vote is one of the greatest civil liberties in our country and registering to vote is the first step toward successfully participating in the electoral process,” Watson said. “I’m proud of our continued efforts to help register all eligible Mississippians to exercise this civil duty.”
NASS members established September as National Voter Registration Month in 2002 to encourage voter registration and remind residents of state requirements and deadlines. Tuesday, Sept. 15, will also be recognized as National Voter Registration Day.
Throughout the month, Watson and his team at the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office will continue their Voter Registration Road Trip, which includes hosting voter registration drives across the state. With November midterm elections on the horizon, Watson is encouraging eligible Mississippians to make sure they are ready to vote. The deadline to register is Oct. 5.
Residents do not have to attend one of Watson’s registration events to register or update their information. The easiest way to register is to print a voter registration form, complete it, and mail it to their local circuit clerk’s office.
For those without access to a printer, mail-in registration forms are available at the Secretary of State’s Office in Jackson, as well as public libraries, driver’s license exam stations, circuit clerk offices, municipal clerk offices, and public schools across the state. Residents who prefer to register in person can do so at circuit clerk and municipal clerk offices statewide.
There are multiple ways to update voter registration information in Mississippi, with the easiest option being online. Voters can also update their information at local circuit clerk and municipal clerk offices.