Move the Vote Registration Initiative

“Move The Vote” is a voter registration initiative by Mississippi REALTORS® and the Offices of State Auditor Stacey Pickering and Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann. It is designed to help Mississippi homebuyers register to vote in the jurisdiction to which they are relocating.

How does the “Move the Vote” initiative work?

Mississippi REALTORS® participating in the program will provide voter registration materials to home purchasers at the real estate closing. An electronic version of the voter registration form is available here. REALTORS® can complete the form for the purchaser(s), and take it (with a pre-addressed stamped envelope) to the closing for purchasers to sign. Following the closing, the REALTOR® or purchaser will drop the completed registration form in the mail to the appropriate Circuit Clerk. Within a few days, the newly registered voter(s) will be notified of their new voting precinct and polling place by mail.

For a printable list of County Circuit Clerk offices, click here.

Why are REALTORS® involved in this initiative?

The real estate closing is the perfect opportunity to register a home buyer to vote. If that purchaser is relocating from a different state, county or different precinct in the same county, this service welcomes the home buyer into the community by plugging them into civic involvement. For those persons moving within the same county, this service will help manage the accuracy of voter rolls, and voters will no longer go to their old precincts to vote. Because the REALTOR® is a significant participant in that closing meeting, he or she is well positioned to provide this an important public service.

The Mississippi electronic voter registration form is available for use by anyone through the Secretary of State’s website.

To access it, go to: Mississippi Voter Registration Form

Important Dates to Remember

Voter Registration: April 1, 2017 — The last day to register to vote in the primary election. The Municipal Clerks’ offices must remain open this Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon for voter registration.

Mail-In Voter Registration: April 1, 2017 — Mail-in voter registration forms must be postmarked no later than this day to be accepted for the primary election.

Absentee Ballot: April 29, 2017 — Municipal Clerks’ offices must remain open from 8 a.m. until noon this Saturday for absentee voting for the primary election. This day at noon is the last day to vote by absentee ballot in the Municipal Clerk’s office for the general election.

Contact your municipal clerk’s office to obtain an absentee ballot.

Absentee Ballot: May 1, 2017 — Mailed absentee ballots must be received no later than 5 p.m. to be accepted for the primary election.

Primary Election: May 2, 2017 — Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for voting in the primary election.

Primary Election Run-Off (if necessary): May 16, 2017 — Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for voting in the primary run-off election.

Voter Registration: May 6, 2017 — The last day to register to vote in the general election. The Municipal Clerks’ offices must remain open this Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon for voter registration.

Mail-In Voter Registration: May 6, 2017 — Mail-in voter registration forms must be postmarked no later than this day to be accepted for the general election.

Absentee Ballot: June 3, 2017 — Municipal Clerks’ offices must remain open from 8 a.m. until noon this Saturday for absentee voting for the general election. This day at noon is the last day to vote by absentee ballot in the Municipal Clerk’s office for the general election.

Contact your municipal clerk’s office to obtain an absentee ballot.

Absentee Ballot: June 5, 2017 — Mailed absentee ballots must be received no later than 5 p.m. to be accepted for the general election.

General Election: June 6, 2017 — Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for voting in the general election.

Voter Registration: October 7, 2017 — The last day to register to vote in any county or county district special election. The Circuit Clerks’ offices must remain open this Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon for voter registration.

Mail-In Voter Registration: October 7, 2017 — Mail-in voter registration forms must be postmarked no later than this day to be accepted for any county or county district special elections.

Absentee Ballot: November 4, 2017 — Circuit Clerks’ offices must remain open from 8 a.m. until noon this Saturday for absentee voting for any county or county district special election. This day at noon is the last day to vote by absentee ballot in the Circuit Clerk’s office for the general election.

Contact your circuit clerk’s office to obtain an absentee ballot.

Absentee Ballot: November 6, 2017 — Mailed absentee ballots must be received no later than 5 p.m. to be accepted for any county or county district special election.

County or County District Special Election: November 7, 2017 — Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for voting in any county or county district special election.

Special Election Run-Off (if necessary): November 28, 2017 — Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for voting in the primary run-off election.