New ‘Y’all Vote’ Online Feature Allows Citizens to Verify Registration Status, Update Registration Information
Among voters’ most frequently asked questions on Election Day come two surprising queries: “Am I registered to vote?” and “Where do I vote?”
Now, those seeking to verify their registration status can access the information online in under a minute. This new feature, located on Y’all Vote (www.yallvote.sos.ms.gov), also prompts voters who are already registered but have recently moved to another location within the State to update their address and receive information about their new polling place.
“Our military men and women serving at home and abroad are fighting for the freedoms we enjoy as Americans, including the precious right to vote,” Governor Phil Bryant said. “One way to honor their service is to register to vote.”
Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann agreed.
“Governance begins at the ballot box, so while we have a lull in statewide elections, every voting age citizen who is eligible should make it a priority to register and ensure their registration information is correct,” Secretary Hosemann said.
The launch of the “Are You Registered to Vote?” tool on Y’all Vote coincides with National Voter Registration Month (September). About 1.8 million people are registered to vote in Mississippi; the U.S. Census Bureau estimates the voting age population to be about 2.26 million.
The new “Are You Registered to Vote?” tool requires a user to enter their name, county of residence, date of birth, and the last four digits of their social security number to locate their information in the Statewide Elections Management System. As a security feature, search results list four name and address combinations, requiring the voter to choose the correct one to move forward. Citizens who are found in the database are notified and directed to their polling place. Citizens who are not found in the database after three attempts are directed to their Circuit Clerk for more information.
Alternately, voters who find their name paired with a previous address are given the option to update their information online. To update registration information, the voter must be located in the Mississippi Department of Public Safety database by providing their name, address, date of birth, and driver’s license or identification number exactly as the information appears on a Mississippi-issued license or ID.
“If you are already a registered voter, ensuring your address is correct in our database is just as critical as registering for the first time,” Secretary Hosemann said. “Your address determines your polling place, and voting in the correct polling place determines whether your ballot counts.”
For example, if a registered voter moves from Rankin County to Hinds County but fails to update their address at least 30 days before an election, their name will not appear in the pollbook at their new Hinds County polling place on Election Day and their affidavit ballot will be rejected.
Registered voters who have moved out of State can also cancel their registration on Y’all Vote.
The Secretary of State’s Office launched Y’all Vote in September 2016 to provide the public with election information in one centralized location. Since its inception, Y’all Vote has garnered more than 34,000 page views. More than 1,100 registered voters in Mississippi have updated their voter registration online since the site’s launch date.
For more information about the “Are You Registered to Vote?” tool, or to change your previously-existing voter registration information, visit www.yallvote.sos.ms.gov.
SOS Delbert Hosemann Press Release
9/6/17
