Today Mississippians head to the polls to choose their next president and U.S. senator. They will also decide the fate of a medical marijuana initiative, a new state flag, and a Jim Crow era constitutional provision.
Mississippi Today reporters will be on the ground across the state acting on tips from voters and providing live updates on Election Day.
Report any problems at the polls to reporters here.
For information and resources on voting in Mississippi, including polling locations, what’s on the ballot and where candidates stand on the issues, use our 2020 Voter Guide.
This page will be continually updated throughout the day with dispatches from Mississippi Today reporters.
LIVE UPDATES:
Anyway, this is Red Lick, MS. Pulled in right as polls closed. Workers said they had a somewhat larger turnout of 241/461 registered voters. Reggie Scott in the camo said this is his first election to work; it meant that much to him this year. “I just think we need a change.” pic.twitter.com/R6pkXU1NwF
— Anna Wolfe (@ayewolfe) November 4, 2020
Poll workers at the Lafayette Civic Center say 1,918 votes have been cast tonight—this doesn’t include absentee ballots and affidavit ballots.
— Brittany M. Brown (@isthatbritt) November 4, 2020
70+ people are still in line to vote tonight at 7:39 p.m. #MSElex pic.twitter.com/X0LurC9uEM
Pierre and Latricia Cosby are standing toward the end the two-hour line at the Lafayette Civic Center.
— Brittany M. Brown (@isthatbritt) November 4, 2020
“I feel like it’s my American duty to stand in line…We have a voice by standing in this line, and I’ma stand here as long as I have to,” Pierre said. #MSElex pic.twitter.com/MFu0rBp8wa
At my last voting location of the day: a steakhouse turned polling place in Attala county. One voter said he felt uncomfortable voting here and didn’t know he was supposed to come here in the first place, another didn’t. #mselex ?@MSTODAYnews? pic.twitter.com/obXdtgETiK
— Kelsey Betz (@kdavistwelve) November 4, 2020
This is Fayette, MS. Folks are still arriving in spurts around 6pm. Poll worker Johnny Jackson said he’s encouraged by civic engagement among youth. “People used to say, ‘Well, my vote don’t count.’ Now they know. You got people reaching out: ‘Oh yeah, you’re *gonna* vote.’” pic.twitter.com/iS8vcCdQRv
— Anna Wolfe (@ayewolfe) November 4, 2020
Canton Fellowship Bible precinct shuts down line everytime they had curbside voters. Line hit 2hrs for ~75 voters due to the curbside interruptions. SOS said if there’s enough poll workers, curbside shouldn’t pull away workers/stop voting. Y’all see this? ?@MSTODAYnews? pic.twitter.com/9cJWcXdahE
— Erica Hensley (@e_hensley) November 3, 2020
This is inside the polling place. I spoke briefly with Phil, a poll manager. This is his first time at this location. He says this is the largest turnout they have ever had. He added they’re doing the best they can to assist those outside/curbside & inside. pic.twitter.com/KiHVsIW9fx
— Aallyah Wright ? (@aallyahpatrice) November 3, 2020
2:2 / this semi- the end of the line. pic.twitter.com/7Sma7oJ7a6
— Aallyah Wright ? (@aallyahpatrice) November 3, 2020
Sat down with two other election commissioners in Yalobusha County, who said today has been busy, which they called “very unusual.”
— Brittany M. Brown (@isthatbritt) November 3, 2020
“I’m glad because if you’re registered to vote, you should vote,” election commissioner Missy Kimzie (right) said. #MSElex pic.twitter.com/G75J5thC2i
Everyone’s been asked to wear a mask and thus far, only 2 people haven’t complied. “But of course we let them vote regardless,” she said. #mselex
— Kate Royals (@KRRoyals) November 3, 2020
Talked to a poll worker in Greenville who estimated about 1,000 people have casted votes there today. He said some people bucked wearing a mask at first because “the governor said they didn’t have to.” They eventually agreed to put one on though, he said. #mselex @MSTODAYnews
— Kelsey Betz (@kdavistwelve) November 3, 2020
This is Tangipahoa (unincorporated Amite). You can tell this is unusual for this small, rural, standalone precinct. Talked to an older man who’s been voting here 40yrs and has always been able to walk right in. He and his wife drove by 3 times trying to avoid the constant line. pic.twitter.com/A25ShyjGO1
— Anna Wolfe (@ayewolfe) November 3, 2020
Cummings said of the ~1,300 voters in his Beat One North Precinct, about 700 have already voted absentee & in person as of this afternoon.
— Brittany M. Brown (@isthatbritt) November 3, 2020
I also overheard some voters coming out of the polling place saying they were the 544th and 545th person to vote here today. #MSElex
Some of the polling place scene in Shaw. Mrs. Cora Jackson said the steady stream of voters reminds her of what she knows about voters in the 60s — “that they felt the need to go out and cast their vote.” #mselex ?@MSTODAYnews? pic.twitter.com/lfijzZj3Ua
— Kelsey Betz (@kdavistwelve) November 3, 2020
When I walked in, two of the pollworkers were visibly exhausted. One hunched over, hung his arms dead as I approached him. They’ve never seen lines like this. Usually there’s a lull at some point, but not today as they’ve had a steady stream of voters.
— Anna Wolfe (@ayewolfe) November 3, 2020
Outside of the Como Library, one of the larger polling places. pic.twitter.com/lxxCSrqDd4
— Aallyah Wright ? (@aallyahpatrice) November 3, 2020
I’m in Water Valley, one of two county seats in Yalobusha County, where there’s an estimated population of 12,392 with 8,967 active voters across 12 precincts.
— Brittany M. Brown (@isthatbritt) November 3, 2020
Eager to see what #ElectionDay looks like in rural, small town Mississippi. #MSElex
D’Iberville Civic Center, voters lined up in the sun. Some reported a 90-minute wait shortly before 1:00, but it seems to be moving a bit. ?@MSTODAYnews? #MSElex pic.twitter.com/lHaUTegKUA
— Tom Wright (@StateStPosts) November 3, 2020
Here in the small town of Sardis, MS. I walked in and only one person was voting. They’ve had 380 folks to come out so far. Poll workers pose for a photo. #mselex @MSTODAYnews pic.twitter.com/GOKom2MWRO
— Aallyah Wright ? (@aallyahpatrice) November 3, 2020
More from SOS: Currently, there are 1,985,928 active registered voters in MS, an increase from the 1,876,605 total from 2016. In 2016, there was a total of 1,209,357 legal votes cast. Based on absentee reports and turnout at the polls, our office expects MS to surpass that total.
— Geoffrey Pender (@GeoffPender) November 3, 2020
The precinct of 582 had recorded 211 votes by about 12:45pm. Voters I talked to here, at a precinct displaying many large American flags, discussed patriotism and fears of socialism. Unusually long lines/crowded street this morning, I’m told.
— Anna Wolfe (@ayewolfe) November 3, 2020
This is Monticello, MS. Nina Hill (left) is set up at a precinct asking for volunteers for a petition to reverse the state flag change, done by the Legislature in June, and put it to a people’s vote. She said she’s not asking people to vote NO on the current ballot init though… pic.twitter.com/NRrTuLXJaC
— Anna Wolfe (@ayewolfe) November 3, 2020
Jermaine Scott of Meridian voted for the first time in his life today. He said the experience was smooth, no lines & everyone was masked up. pic.twitter.com/hWjixTm6Ny
— Kate Royals (@KRRoyals) November 3, 2020
Pretty active voting line in Mound Bayou considering this is a non-peak voting time. Community member Mrs. Jackie Lucas worked down to the wire to get their voting location changed from a small city hall to this gym #mselex ?@MSTODAYnews? pic.twitter.com/aEFQGJ2pxF
— Kelsey Betz (@kdavistwelve) November 3, 2020
She eventually was told a new address after physically going into the circuit clerks office.
— Kate Royals (@KRRoyals) November 3, 2020
An airplane with Trump 2020 flag flying over Oxford. #MSElex pic.twitter.com/DyMsW02j3V
— Brittany M. Brown (@isthatbritt) November 3, 2020
Long like this morning at Tupelo precinct 1. Text from source: “I’ve been voting here for 25 years. This is the longest line I’ve seen.” #MSElex pic.twitter.com/drwWLsWds7
— Adam Ganucheau (@GanucheauAdam) November 3, 2020
Just spoke with Ms. Jackie Mitchell, a poll worker in Cleveland. She said they’ve had about 500 people vote at this polling place so far. Way more than what she saw in 2016. She’s anticipating lines again during popular voting times ?@MSTODAYnews? #mselex pic.twitter.com/u2R2SksXiJ
— Kelsey Betz (@kdavistwelve) November 3, 2020
Line at Casey Elementary precinct in Jackson (Hinds County) right now. About 50 people, but it’s moving. #MSElex pic.twitter.com/1iymMogFpT
— Adam Ganucheau (@GanucheauAdam) November 3, 2020
Spotted an error in the SOS’ polling location list. East Cleveland address is 1101 Martin Luther King Drive, not 101 #mselex ?@MSTODAYnews? pic.twitter.com/zyOauXto5T
— Kelsey Betz (@kdavistwelve) November 3, 2020
Longest line I’ve seen this morning in Oxford at the Lafayette Civic Club. This precinct serves 5,162 voters. Line appears to be at least a quarter mile long, and it’s growing with a steady stream of voters. Cars are parked out to Highway 6. #MSElex pic.twitter.com/lFOTU5rXjY
— Brittany M. Brown (@isthatbritt) November 3, 2020
Jamelle Banks relocated from Atlanta to Cleveland 6 months ago. She said she waited hours in line to vote in the primaries in ATL. Voting here today was peaceful and “a big change but a nice one,” she said. ?@MSTODAYnews? #mselex pic.twitter.com/42ME2bpMqL
— Kelsey Betz (@kdavistwelve) November 3, 2020
Longggg line at Word of Life Church precinct in Flowood – Rankin County. #MSElex pic.twitter.com/GTfV8vt7kS
— Adam Ganucheau (@GanucheauAdam) November 3, 2020
They’re currently at Hinds’ new 54 precinct. Moved from Hardy Middle School to Jackson Career Development center. Switch not listed in SOS’ polling place changes. Houses about 700 voters, but no confusion so far this AM.
— Erica Hensley (@e_hensley) November 3, 2020
I just spoke with Linda Whitfield and Parker Abbey. They’re giving free rides to people who need to get to the polls in Clarksdale. #mselex @MSTODAYnews pic.twitter.com/cibYyQrg9Z
— Aallyah Wright ? (@aallyahpatrice) November 3, 2020
Social distancing and face masks are “strongly encouraged,” though most everyone in line is wearing face coverings, and poll workers are out distributing masks and telling people not to be discouraged by the long line. #MSelex pic.twitter.com/LzQ5F9CUsz
— Brittany M. Brown (@isthatbritt) November 3, 2020
Just over an hour after the polls have opened and the line of voters is wrapped around the parking lot at the Oxford Conference Center. #mselex pic.twitter.com/whnn4DCdrV
— Brittany M. Brown (@isthatbritt) November 3, 2020
One woman I talked to waited an hour to vote. She told me she was frustrated she had to stand in line all that time behind a man wearing a MAGA hat, a violation of election rules. She complained of a cramped precinct, that folks could see others’ ballots. https://t.co/uyTAnOqcli
— Anna Wolfe (@ayewolfe) November 3, 2020
It’s a very, very long line at the Lyman Community Center in North Gulfport. ?@MSTODAYnews? pic.twitter.com/wb0mJwLuYz
— Tom Wright (@StateStPosts) November 3, 2020
Our lovely poll workers all geared up in their PPE today #mselex ?@MSTODAYnews? pic.twitter.com/cqtIrRAljT
— Kelsey Betz (@kdavistwelve) November 3, 2020
There’s close to a couple hundred people waiting in line at the Marks Apts precinct in Ridgeland. Across an entire shopping strip and almost into Primos. Before 7:30. In the last couple years I’ve never seen a line here of more than 5 ppl #mselex pic.twitter.com/TmOEZNv3ql
— Alex Rozier (@alxrzr) November 3, 2020
Jackson’s Eudora Welty precinct wrapping around the building at open. 75+ masked, distanced. (Including this voter!) I’m in metro for the rest of the day. Reach out if you have issues. @MSTODAYnews pic.twitter.com/2ssHqx1BGA
— Erica Hensley (@e_hensley) November 3, 2020
Not too long of a line outside our courthouse in Cleveland, MS, but this also isn’t a huge voting precinct. Active voter count here is about 405, according to SOS. #mselex @MSTODAYnews pic.twitter.com/HHXrU4hRkb
— Kelsey Betz (@kdavistwelve) November 3, 2020
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.