Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Mississippi

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Note: This article is not intended to serve as a 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, click here. 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).

See state election laws

Year-specific filing information

2024

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2024 U.S. Congress elections and Mississippi elections, 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	Democratic	N/A	N/A	$1,000.00	Fixed number	1/12/2024	Source
Mississippi	U.S. Senate	Republican	N/A	N/A	$5,000.00	Fixed number	1/12/2024	Source
Mississippi	U.S. Senate	Unaffiliated	1,000	Fixed number	$1,000.00	Fixed number	1/12/2024	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	Democratic	N/A	$500.00	1/12/2024	Source
Mississippi	U.S. House	Republican	N/A	$2,500.00	1/12/2024	Source
Mississippi	U.S. House	Unaffiliated	200	$500.00	1/12/2024	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

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2022 U.S. Congress elections and Mississippi elections, 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

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2020 U.S. Congress elections and Mississippi elections, 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: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2018 U.S. Congress elections and Mississippi elections, 2018

See below for 2018 candidate filing deadlines.

(date not yet available)

2016

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2016 U.S. Congress elections and 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

To view historical information for 2015, click [show] to expand the section.

See also: Mississippi elections, 2015 Mississippi held a primary election on August 4, 2015. The general election took place on November 3, 2015. Voters elected candidates to serve in the following offices: Governor of Mississippi Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi Mississippi Attorney General Mississippi Secretary of State Mississippi Auditor Mississippi Treasurer Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance Mississippi Public Service Commission (3 seats) Mississippi State Legislature The table below lists important election-related dates for 2015. Legend:      Ballot access     Campaign finance     Election date Dates and requirements for candidates in 2015 Deadline Event type Event description January 1, 2015 Ballot access First day candidates may qualify for office January 30, 2015 Campaign finance Annual Campaign Finance Reports due February 27, 2015 Ballot access Qualifying deadline for primary and independent candidates for the primary and general elections March 3, 2015 Ballot access Deadline for state political parties to submit candidate lists to the Mississippi Secretary of State May 8, 2015 Campaign finance Periodic Campaign Finance Reports due June 10, 2015 Campaign finance Periodic Campaign Finance Reports due July 10, 2015 Campaign finance Periodic Campaign Finance Reports due July 26, 2015 Campaign finance 48-Hour Campaign Finance Reports due (if applicable) August 4, 2015 Election date Primary election August 16, 2015 Campaign finance 48-Hour Campaign Finance Reports due (if applicable) August 18, 2015 Campaign finance Pre-Runoff Campaign Finance Reports due (if applicable) August 25, 2014 Election date Primary election runoff (if necessary) October 9, 2015 Campaign finance Periodic Campaign Finance Reports due October 25, 2015 Campaign finance 48-Hour Campaign Finance Reports due (if applicable) October 27, 2015 Campaign finance Pre-Election Campaign Finance Reports due November 3, 2015 Election date General election November 15, 2015 Campaign finance 48-Hour Campaign Finance Reports due (if applicable) November 17, 2015 Campaign finance Pre-Runoff Campaign Finance Reports due (if applicable) November 24, 2015 Election date General election runoff (if necessary)

2014

To view historical information for 2014, click [show] to expand the section.

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2014 U.S. Congress elections and Mississippi elections, 2014 Mississippi held a primary election on June 3, 2014. The general election took place on November 4, 2014. Voters elected candidates to serve in the following state and federal offices: 1 seat in the United States Senate 4 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives The filing deadline for candidates running in the primary election was March 1, 2014. For independent candidates running in the general election, the deadline was also March 1, 2014. Newly qualifying political parties for the 2014 elections also had to adhere to these filing deadlines. Legend:      Ballot access     Campaign finance     Election date Dates and requirements for candidates in 2014 Deadline Event type Event description March 1, 2014 Ballot access Filing deadline for both party candidates running in the primary and independent candidates seeking ballot placement for the general election May 27, 2014 Campaign finance Pre-Election Report (primary candidates - January 1, 2014 - May 24, 2014) June 3, 2014 Election date Primary election date June 17, 2014 Campaign finance Pre-Election Report (runoff candidates only - May 25, 2014 - June 14, 2014) June 24, 2014 Election date Second primary election date (if necessary) October 28, 2014 Campaign finance Pre-Election Report (June 15, 2014 - October 25, 2014) November 4, 2014 Election date General election date November 18, 2014 Campaign finance Pre-Election Report (runoff candidates only - October 26, 2014 - November 15, 2014) November 25, 2014 Election date General election runoff (if necessary) January 30, 2015 Campaign finance Annual Report (January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014)

Process to become a candidate

For party candidates

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.

Mississippi law directly sets filing fees for some elected offices, while authorizing political party committees to determine fees for other offices within statutory limits:

Filing fees
Office	Fee
Governor, United States Senator	Political party state executive committees determine the fee between $1,000 and $5,000.
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	Political party state executive committees determine the fee between $500 and $2,500.
State senator, state representative	$250

For independent candidates

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:

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:

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:

• 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. 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.

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

Election administration agencies

Election agencies

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in Mississippi can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

Mississippi County Election Officials

Click here for a list

Mississippi Secretary of State

Physical Address: Heber Ladner Building

401 Mississippi Street

Jackson, Mississippi 39201-1004

Mailing address: P. O. Box 136

Jackson, Mississippi 39205-0136

Phone: 601-576-2550

Toll free: 800-829-6786

Fax: 601-576-2545

Mississippi Ethics Commission

Physical Address: 660 North Street, Suite 100-C

Jackson, Mississippi 39202

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 22746

Jackson, Mississippi 39225

Phone: 601-359-1285

Fax: 601-359-1292

Email: info@ethics.state.ms.us

Website: https://www.ethics.ms.gov

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200

Washington, DC 20001

Phone: 301-563-3919

Toll free: 1-866-747-1471

Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov

Website: https://www.eac.gov

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Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool.

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Term limits

State executives

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:

• The governor may serve a total of two terms.
• The lieutenant governor may serve no more than two consecutive terms.

State legislators

See also: State legislatures with term limits

Mississippi does not place term limits on state legislators.

Congressional partisanship

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

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

Mississippi State Senate

Party		As of September 2025
	Democratic Party	14
	Republican Party	36
	Other	0
	Vacancies	2
Total		52

Mississippi House of Representatives

Party		As of September 2025
	Democratic Party	39
	Republican Party	79
	Independent	3
	Vacancies	1
Total		122

Related legislation

The table below lists bills related to ballot access requirements for candidates that have been introduced during (or carried over to) the current legislative session in Mississippi. The following information is included for each bill:

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

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

The Ballot Bulletin

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Recent issues

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• The Ballot Bulletin: September 12, 2025
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• The Ballot Bulletin: August 22, 2025
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See also

• Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Mississippi
• Ballot access requirements for political parties in Mississippi
• Mississippi elections, 2024
• Campaign finance requirements in Mississippi
• Counties in Mississippi
• List of United States Representatives from Mississippi
• List of United States Senators from Mississippi
• Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions
• State executives with term limits
• States with gubernatorial term limits
• State legislatures with term limits

External links

Official state and federal links

• Mississippi Secretary of State
• Mississippi Ethics Commission
• Federal Election Commission
• Mississippi Secretary of State, "Candidate Qualifying Forms"

Other information

• Ballot Access News – News updates and analysis of ballot access issues
• Election Law Program – Report on state regulations that affect political parties
• National Voter Outreach – Political consulting firm that specializes in organizing petition signature drives

Footnotes

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