Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Mississippi

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Note: This article is not intended to serve as an exhaustive guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact their state election agencies for further information.

In order to get on the ballot in Mississippi, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

  1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
  2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
  3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Mississippi. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, see "Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Mississippi." Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

DocumentIcon.jpg See state election laws

Year-specific filing information

2024

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Mississippi in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Mississippi, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2024
State Office Party Signatures required Signature formula Filing fee Filing fee formula Filing deadline Source
Mississippi U.S. Senate Qualified party N/A N/A $1,000.00 Fixed number TBD Source
Mississippi U.S. Senate Unaffiliated 1,000 Fixed number $1,000.00 Fixed number TBD Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Mississippi in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Mississippi, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2024
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Mississippi U.S. House Ballot-qualified party N/A $500.00 TBD Source
Mississippi U.S. House Unaffiliated 200 $500.00 TBD Source


For filing information from previous years, click "[Show more]" below.

Show more

2023

Governor

The table below details filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates in Mississippi in the 2023 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Mississippi, click here.

Filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates, 2023
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source Notes
Mississippi Governor Democratic or Republican N/A $1,000 2/1/2023 Source
Mississippi Governor Unaffiliated 1,000 $1,000 2/1/2023 Source

State legislature

The table below details filing requirements for Mississippi House of Representatives candidates in the 2023 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2023
Chamber name Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Mississippi House of Representatives Qualified party N/A $250.00 2/1/2023 Source
Mississippi House of Representatives Unaffiliated 50 $250.00 2/1/2023 Source


The table below details filing requirements for Mississippi State Senate candidates in the 2023 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2023
Chamber name Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Mississippi State Senate Qualified party N/A $250.00 2/1/2023 Source
Mississippi State Senate Unaffiliated 50 $250.00 2/1/2023 Source


2022

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Mississippi in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Mississippi, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2022
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Mississippi U.S. House Ballot-qualified party N/A $500.00 3/1/2022 Source
Mississippi U.S. House Unaffiliated 200 $500.00 3/1/2022 Source

2020

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Mississippi in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Mississippi, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2020
State Office Party Signatures required Signature formula Filing fee Filing fee formula Filing deadline Source
Mississippi U.S. Senate Qualified party N/A N/A $1,000.00 Fixed number 1/10/2020 Source
Mississippi U.S. Senate Unaffiliated 1,000 Fixed number $1,000.00 Fixed number 1/10/2020 Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Mississippi in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Mississippi, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2020
State Office Party Signatures required Signature formula Filing fee Filing fee formula Filing deadline Source
Mississippi 1st Congressional District Qualified party N/A N/A $500.00 Fixed number 1/10/2020 Source
Mississippi 1st Congressional District Unaffiliated 200 Fixed number $500.00 Fixed number 1/10/2020 Source
Mississippi 2nd Congressional District Qualified party N/A N/A $500.00 Fixed number 1/10/2020 Source
Mississippi 2nd Congressional District Unaffiliated 200 Fixed number $500.00 Fixed number 1/10/2020 Source
Mississippi 3rd Congressional District Qualified party N/A N/A $500.00 Fixed number 1/10/2020 Source
Mississippi 3rd Congressional District Unaffiliated 200 Fixed number $500.00 Fixed number 1/10/2020 Source
Mississippi 4th Congressional District Qualified party N/A N/A $500.00 Fixed number 1/10/2020 Source
Mississippi 4th Congressional District Unaffiliated 200 Fixed number $500.00 Fixed number 1/10/2020 Source

2018

See also: State and federal candidate filing deadlines for 2018 and Mississippi elections, 2018

See below for 2018 candidate filing deadlines.

(date not yet available)

2016

See also: Mississippi elections, 2016

The calendar below lists important filing deadlines for political candidates in Mississippi in 2016.

Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016
Deadline Event type Event description
January 4, 2016 Ballot access Qualifying period opens for primary and independent candidates
January 8, 2016 Ballot access Qualifying period closes for primary and independent candidates
January 8, 2016 Campaign finance Campaign finance report due
January 29, 2016 Campaign finance 2015 annual report due
March 8, 2016 Election date Primary election
May 6, 2016 Ballot access Qualifying period closes for nonpartisan judicial offices
May 10, 2016 Campaign finance Campaign finance report due
June 10, 2016 Campaign finance Campaign finance report due
July 8, 2016 Campaign finance Campaign finance report due
October 10, 2016 Campaign finance Campaign finance report due
November 8, 2016 Election date General election
Source: Mississippi Secretary of State, "2016 Elections Calendar," accessed November 25, 2015

2015


2014


Process to become a candidate

A petition form for independent candidates, 2013

For party candidates

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: Title 23, Chapter 15, Article 11, Section 297 of the Mississippi Code

A candidate seeking the nomination of his or her party for federal or state office (including seats in the Mississippi State Legislature) must submit a statement of intent to his or her party and pay a filing fee, also to be submitted to the party. The statement of intent is a form prescribed by the Mississippi Secretary of State that must include the name and address of the candidate, the party with which the candidate is affiliated, and the office being sought. The deadline for receipt of these materials by the state executive committee of the party is set by state statutes as 5:00 p.m. on March 1 in the year of the election.[3]

Filing fees are set by statute and are as follows:[4][5]

Filing fees
Office Fee
Governor, United States Senator $1,000
Lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, insurance commissioner, commissioner of agriculture and commerce, public service commissioner, state highway commissioner, United States Representative $500
State senator, state representative $250

For independent candidates

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: Title 23, Chapter 15, Article 13, Part B of the Mississippi Code

Independent candidates for federal or state office (including seats in the Mississippi State Legislature) must petition to appear on the general election ballot. The form of petitions is prescribed by the Mississippi Secretary of State, and completed petitions must be submitted to the Mississippi Secretary of State by 5:00 p.m. on March 1 in the year of the election. Signature requirements are as follows:[4]

Petition signature requirements
Office Required signatures
For offices elected by the state at large (e.g., United States Senator, governor, attorney general, etc.) At least 1,000 signatures
For an office elected by congressional district (e.g., United States Representative) At least 200 signatures
For an office elected by state senatorial or representative district (e.g., State senator, state representative) At least 50 signatures

The petition must be accompanied by a qualifying statement of intent (a form prescribed by the Mississippi Secretary of State similar to the statement of intent filed by party candidates). Petition signatures must be verified by the appropriate circuit clerk in the county in which signatures were collected before being submitted to the Mississippi Secretary of State for final approval. Independent candidates must also pay filing fees as follows:[4][5]

Filing fees
Office Fee
Governor, United States Senator $1,000
Lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, insurance commissioner, commissioner of agriculture and commerce, public service commissioner, state highway commissioner, United States Representative $500
State senator, state representative $250

For write-in candidates

The relevant statutes do not indicate that write-in candidates must file any special paperwork or pay any filing fees in order to have their votes tallied.

Petition requirements

See also: Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions

In some cases, candidates may need to obtain signatures via the petition process to gain access to the ballot. This section outlines the laws and regulations pertaining to petitions and circulators in Mississippi.

Format requirements

The form of petitions is prescribed by the Mississippi Secretary of State. Petitions must include the following information:[6]

  • name of the county or district in which signatures were collected
  • name of the candidate
  • date and type of the election (i.e., general election or special election)
  • name of the office being sought.

Signature requirements

Signers must include, in addition to their signatures, their printed names, addresses, and precincts.[6] Petition forms may be obtained from the circuit clerk or the secretary of state.

Circulation requirements

The statutes do not specify a date on which petitions may begin circulating, but petitions cannot be submitted to circuit clerks for verification prior to January 1 of the election year.[7]

The relevant statutes do not specify residency requirements or other regulations for petition circulators.

Election-related agencies

See also: State election agencies

Mississippi Secretary of State

Physical address: Heber Ladner Building, 401 Mississippi Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39201
Mailing address: P. O. Box 136, Jackson, Mississippi 39205-0136
Telephone: 601-576-2550
Toll-free: 1-800-829-6786
Fax: 404-651-9531
Website: http://www.sos.ms.gov/elections.aspx
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Term limits

State executives

State Executive Officials
See also: State executives with term limits and States with gubernatorial term limits

State executive term limits are established in Article 5 of the Mississippi Constitution and are as follows:[8][9]

State legislators

See also: State legislatures with term limits

Mississippi does not place term limits on state legislators.

Congressional partisanship

Portal:Legislative Branch
See also: List of United States Representatives from Mississippi and List of United States Senators from Mississippi

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the congressional delegation from Mississippi.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Mississippi
Party U.S. Senate U.S. House Total
Democratic 0 1 1
Republican 2 3 5
Independent 0 0 0
Vacancies 0 0 0
Total 2 4 6

State legislative partisanship

Portal:State legislatures

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the state legislature of Mississippi.

Mississippi State Senate

Party As of January 2024
     Democratic Party 16
     Republican Party 36
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 52

Mississippi House of Representatives

Party As of January 2024
     Democratic Party 41
     Republican Party 79
     Independent 2
     Vacancies 0
Total 122

Related legislation

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The embedded table below lists state bills affecting ballot access requirements for candidates introduced in Mississippi. The following information is included for each bill:

  • State
  • Bill number
  • Official name or caption
  • Most recent action date
  • Legislative status
  • Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized alphabetically, first by state and then by bill number. To view additional results, use the arrows in the upper-right corner of the table. For more information about a particular bill, simply click the bill number. This will open a separate page with additional information.

Ballotpedia’s comprehensive Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker is the basis for this data. This user-friendly tracker covers thousands of election-related bills in state legislatures, and organizes them by topic with neutral, expert analysis from Ballotpedia’s election administration researchers.

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See also

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External links

Official state and federal links

Other information

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Mississippi Secretary of State, "2015 Elections Calendar," accessed February 9, 2015
  2. ↑ Mississippi Secretary of State, "2014 Mississippi Elections Candidate Qualifying Guide," accessed January 17, 2014
  3. ↑ Mississippi Code of 1972, "Title 23, Chapter 15, Article 11, Section 299," accessed May 22, 2023
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Mississippi Code of 1972, "Title 23, Chapter 15, Article 11, Section 297," accessed May 22, 2023
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 [http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2016/pdf/SB/2100-2199/SB2167SG.pdf MIssissippi Legislature, "Senate Bill No. 2167," accessed May 22, 2023
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Mississippi Secretary of State, "Candidate Petition - Independent Candidate," accessed May 22, 2023
  7. ↑ Mississippi Secretary of State, "2022 Mississippi Elections Candidate Qualifying Guide," accessed May 22, 2023
  8. ↑ Mississippi Constitution, "Article V, Section 116," accessed May 22, 2023
  9. ↑ Mississippi Constitution, "Article V, Section 128," accessed May 22, 2023
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