With the 2024 presidential election less than 100 days away, news and social media are buzzing around the clock with all eyes on former President and Republican nominee Donald Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris.
Harris, who stepped in after President Joe Biden dropped from the race on July 21, officially became the Democratic nominee after a five-day online balloting process in which the Vice President received the majority of votes from Democratic National Convention delegates.
During the Republican National Convention in July, Trump announced Ohio Sen. JD Vance as his running mate. Tuesday morning, Harris announced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her VP pick.
Between the assassination attempt on Trump and Biden’s sudden dropout, the 2024 presidential race had already taken countless twists and turns by the time August came around, with undoubtedly more to come leading up to the big day. Many potential voters face barriers, including lack of knowledge regarding voter registration and where to go on election day.
If you want to cast your vote and make your voice is heard in the 2024 general election, you need to know how to register, when to register, when to vote and where to vote.
Read on to find the answers for Mississippians.
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When is the presidential election?
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General election day: Nov. 5, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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Absentee by mail: Nov. 5. All absentee by mail votes must be postmarked on or before Nov. 5.
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In-person absentee voting: Oct. 26 through Nov. 2, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at local city clerks’ offices
Ballots on Nov. 5 will include the race for president of the United States. It also will include other major positions, including senator, supreme court justices as well as levee and election commissioners down to school board races.
A full list of positions that will be on ballots can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.
If the general election goes into a runoff, the following dates apply:
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Runoff absentee voting: Nov. 16 through 23 , 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at local circuit clerks’ offices. Absentee votes by mail must be postmarked on or before Nov. 26.
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Runoff election day: Nov. 26, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at local polling places
When is the registration deadline?
Oct. 7 is the key takeaway here. You must register by this date if you want to participate in November’s voting.
How do I register?
Voters can register in two ways: mailing in an application or physically handing the application in, both to the county’s Circuit Clerk’s office.
A registration form can be found online, printed out, filled in and then turned in by mail or in person. If you are registering to vote in Mississippi but do not have a Mississippi driver’s license, you must turn in the application with a copy of a valid form of photo ID or other document proving your U.S. residence such as a paycheck or current utility bill.
Voters can use the same form to change their name or address.
Here are some addresses for local Circuit Clerk offices if you want to mail in your registration application form:
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Hinds County: P.O. Box 327, Jackson, MS 39205
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Madison County: P.O. Box 1626, Canton, MS 39046
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Rankin County: P.O. Box 1599, Brandon, MS 39043
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Forrest County: P.O. Box 992, Hattiesburg, MS 39403
Here are some addresses for local Circuit Clerk offices if you want to turn in your registration application form in person:
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Hinds County: 407 E Pascagoula St., Jackson, MS
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Madison County: 128 West North St., Canton, MS
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Rankin County: 215 E. Government St., Brandon, MS
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Forrest County: 630 Main St., Hattiesburg, MS
A full list of mailing addresses is listed on the second page of the application form.
How do I know where to vote?
Now you’re registered, but how do you know where to go on election day?
Each voter has a specific precinct in which to vote. Polling places can be found through the “My Election Day” tab on the Mississippi Secretary of State’s website. After you enter a residential address and zip code, the site provides the precinct’s address and directions through Google Maps.
More in state news: How would a national TikTok ban affect Mississippi content creators? Read details here
Got a news tip? Contact Mary Boyte at mboyte@jackson.gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Here’s how and when to register to vote in the 2024 presidential election
