Tuesday, June 28, 2022

Update on Republican Primary Runoff Elections

JACKSON — Voting is underway for Mississippi's Republican Primary Runoff Elections in Districts 2, 3, and 4. Call volume to the Secretary of State's Elections Hotline is steady, with most calls relating to polling place locations and ballot confusion at the St. Philip's Episcopal Church voting precinct in Congressional District 2. 


We received about 10 reports of voters claiming they were able to cast a District 3 ballot in the Primary Election but received a District 2 ballot from poll workers at the same precinct during today's runoff elections. Primary runoff elections are conducted by political parties and local election officials. However, all reports have been passed along to the proper authorities, including the Attorney General’s Office.


Additionally, due to an incorrect calendar selection in the Statewide Election Management System (SEMS), Mississippians who registered to vote on May 31, 2022, which was the voter registration deadline for primary runoff elections, or postmarked a voter registration application on May 31, 2022, will not appear in the pollbook during today's runoff elections. Voters in this situation are instructed to cast an affidavit ballot at the polls today. Local officials conducting the election will review the voter’s registration and accept the affidavit ballot if the effective voter registration date was on or before May 31,  2022.


As of today, the Statewide Election Management System (SEMS) reported a total of 5,317 absentee ballots requested for today's runoff elections. The total is just shy of the 5,612 Republican absentee ballots requested on Primary Election Day. All Republican Primary Runoff Election mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by TODAY, June 28th, and received by Circuit Clerk Offices within five business days of June 28th in order to count.


Click here to view a sample ballot.


 
Republican Primary Runoff Election Day Reminders

  • Polling Place Hours: Polling places close at 7 p.m. However, any voter in line at 7 p.m. is still legally entitled to cast a ballot.
  • Polling Place Location: Contact your County Circuit Clerk’s Office or local Election Commissioners to verify your polling place. 
  • Crossover Voting: Crossover voting is not allowed in Mississippi, meaning a person who voted in one political party’s Primary Election cannot legally vote in a different political party’s Primary Runoff Election. However, voters who did not cast a ballot in the Primary Election are still eligible to vote in the Republican Primary Runoff Elections. 
  • Voter Photo ID: Voters are required to show photo identification at the polls.  A voter without an acceptable form of photo identification is entitled to cast an affidavit ballot. 
  • Campaigning: It is unlawful to campaign for any candidate within 150 feet of any entrance to a polling place, unless on private property. 
  • Loitering: The polling places should be clear for 30 feet from every entrance of all people except elections officials, voters waiting to vote, or authorized poll watchers.
  • Camera Phones: Voters are prohibited from taking pictures of their marked ballot.

 
For questions regarding Republican Primary Runoff Election Day, 
please contact our Elections Division: 

ElectionsAnswers@sos.ms.gov
Hotline: 1-800-829-6786

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