Mississippi absentee ballots top 116,000, exceeding 2022 midterm count

The Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office confirmed on Monday that circuit clerks have received 116,453 absentee ballots for the upcoming midterms. This figure is more than double the 49,630 absentee ballots recorded in the 2022 election. The state reported that 122,590 ballots have been mailed to voters, leaving 6,137 outstanding that can still be counted if postmarked by Election Day.

Mississippi does not allow no-excuse early voting, which distinguishes its process from many other states. Residents must meet specific criteria to cast an absentee ballot. These requirements include being out of town on Election Day, working during polling hours, or being at least 65 years old. The 2022 midterms saw a total of 709,000 ballots cast, a turnout rate of 32.5% among registered voters.

The current surge in mail-in voting aligns with national trends. An analysis by the University of Florida indicated that more than 50 million Americans had voted early as of October 31. This number represents an increase of nearly 5 million over the total early votes recorded in the 2022 midterms.

Voters in Mississippi will select one of the state’s two U.S. Senate seats and all four congressional representatives on Tuesday. The ballot also includes several local judicial races and special elections. The final turnout figures will depend on in-person participation on Election Day, but the high volume of absentee ballots already secured suggests a high level of engagement compared to the previous cycle.