Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson is urging residents to prepare for the state’s primary election on March 10, which will include races for U.S. Senate and U.S. House seats. Watson highlighted efforts to ensure election integrity and increase voter participation during a recent interview, as the state approaches key deadlines for the upcoming vote.
In-person absentee voting concludes Saturday, March 7, and all mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day, according to Watson. He emphasized the importance of the election, stating, “They are incredibly essential elections for the future of our state and our country.”
To assist voters, Watson’s office is promoting the “My Election Day” tool on the Secretary of State’s website, allowing citizens to print sample ballots and review candidates before heading to the polls. “I hope folks are taking the time to educate themselves on the candidates to make sure they are going to get out and vote,” Watson said.
Beyond providing resources, the Secretary of State’s office is actively working to engage younger voters through initiatives like the “Promote the Vote” campaign, which conducts mock elections in schools. A high school ambassador program also selects students to conduct voter registration drives, and the office conducts “Elections 101” campaigns at colleges and community events, focusing on voter registration and the voting process.
Legislative changes are also underway that could impact absentee voting. Watson noted a bill progressing through the state legislature that would allow absentee voters to insert their ballots directly into a machine, rather than utilizing an envelope. This change is being advocated by the Clerks Association, which has cited instances of ballots being disqualified due to envelope-related technical errors. Watson affirmed his commitment to ensuring the integrity of the process, regardless of how this issue is resolved. “No matter who it is that casts that vote, I desire to make sure that it was done correctly, by the law, and it is the vote that is going to be counted,” he stated.
Watson also expressed support for the federal SAVE Act, which would mandate voter ID and proof of citizenship. He believes these requirements are sensible, stating, “Showing your ID and then proving you’re a citizen, those are no-brainers, in my opinion.” Mississippi already has a voter ID law and a system for verifying citizenship against security databases, including the SAVE system, Watson noted. “We should only have United States citizens voting in our elections,” he said.
The voter registration deadline for the March 10 primary was February 9, according to a bulletin released by the Secretary of State’s office on February 3, 2026.