Republican and Democratic voters will pick candidates to represent their parties in the runoff election on Tuesday, Aug. 29, ahead of the general election on Nov. 7. Six districts will have runoff elections for party representatives. This guide shares information regarding who is on the ballot and how to vote.
Who Is On The Ballot?
Below are the candidates running to gain a party nominee to represent their district in the general election. To find a full list of candidates running for offices in your district, find a sample ballot through the Mississippi Secretary of State’s My Election Day tool.
Democratic Runoff: District 66 Representative
Fabian Nelson
Roshunda Harris-Allen
Democratic Runoff: District 69 Representative
Tamarra Butler-Washington
Patty Patterson
Democratic Runoff: District 72 Representative
Justis Gibbs
Rukia Lumumba
Republican Runoff: District 2 Representative
Nick Bain (incumbent)
Brad Mattox
Republican Runoff: District 105 Representative
Dale Goodin (incumbent)
Elliot Burch
Republican Runoff: District 115 Representative
Zachary Grady
Felix Gines
Who Can Vote
Voters can cast a ballot in the Tuesday, Aug. 29 runoffs even if they did not vote in the Aug. 8 primaries. Voters who did cast a ballot in the Aug. 8 primaries may only vote in the same party’s runoff.
Where To Vote
The Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office’s My Election Day tool has polling place information. However, Mississippi Free Press investigations discovered that the tool’s information may not always be correct or updated.
The Mississippi Free Press provides a list of polling place locations and precinct changes that voters can cross reference with what the Secretary of State provides.
Verify your polling by contacting your county election officials with the contact information the Secretary of State’s website provides.
When To Vote
Polls are open statewide from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., on Tuesday, Aug. 29. Voters who are in line by 7 p.m. can still vote if they stay in line.
Voter ID Requirements
Voters must use one of the following forms of photo identification to cast a ballot.
- A driver’s license
- A photo ID card issued by a branch, department, or entity of the State of Mississippi
- A U.S. 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 U.S. military ID
- A tribal photo ID
- Any other photo ID issued by any branch, department, agency or entity of the U.S. government or any State government
- A Mississippi Voter Identification Card
More information on voter ID is available here.
How To Get A Free Voter Identification Card
Residents who do not have one of the above IDs can get a free Mississippi Voter Identification Card from their local circuit clerk’s office (find contact information for your county’s circuit clerk at this link). After voters apply, they will receive their ID by mail. If a voter applied for a voter ID card within 45 days of the election, they can use the receipt the circuit clerk’s office provided.
Mississippians who come to vote without an accepted form of photo ID or a new Mississippi Voter Identification Card application receipt can vote by affidavit, but the voter must show one of the forms of ID to the circuit clerk’s office within five business days after the election for the vote to count.
Find more information on voter ID here.
Overseas and Military Voters
Mississippians living overseas, like military service members, can vote through email. Contact the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Elections Hotline at 1-800-829-6786 or email UOCAVA@sos.ms.gov for more information.
Mailing Absentee Ballots
Mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by runoff election day (Aug. 29), and local election officials must receive them within five days of election day to qualify.
Voting Assistance
Mississippians who have disabilities or blindness or who cannot read or write can get help voting from a person or their choice. Candidates on the ballot (including their families) and poll workers cannot help voters mark their ballot.
Polling Place Reminders
The secretary of state’s office has repeatedly provided these reminders ahead of elections.
- People cannot campaign for candidates within 150 of the entrance of a polling place, unless on private property
- Voters cannot photograph their marked ballot
- Thirty feet of every polling place entrance should be clear of people except for authorized poll watchers, election officials and voters waiting to vote.
For Future Elections
Find information on how to register to vote in future elections at this link. Update voter registration information at this link.
Correction: An earlier version of the story said Mississippians could only vote in the Tuesday, Aug. 29 runoff election if they voted in the Aug. 8 primary election. That is not true. Mississippians can vote in the Tuesday, Aug. 29 election regardless of whether they voted in the Aug. 8 election.
