“If you don’t vote, you don’t have a voice. Make your voice heard in Mississippi.” – Morgan Freeman

This past basketball season, Lynn and I lucked out with a pair of tickets next to one of our most famous living Mississippians: Morgan Freeman, an avid Ole Miss fan and registered Mississippi voter.

As the game progressed, we began speaking about the importance of registering to vote and casting a ballot.  Toward the end of our visit, Mr. Freeman said to me: “If you don’t vote, you don’t have a voice.”

As Mississippi’s Chief Elections Officer, I could not agree more.  Governance begins at the ballot box, particularly where municipal elections are concerned, and many have fought and died to give us the right to vote.

Who determines whether new businesses are welcome in your community?  Who secures a police force and fire protection? Who maintains your streets?  Your mayor, aldermen and women, city council members, and other municipal elected officials, are directly tied to all of these responsibilities impacting our daily lives.

On Tuesday, June 6, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., many of Mississippi’s 1.8 million registered voters will have the opportunity to vote for candidates running for these important positions. 

There is only one way to ensure your voice is heard in this upcoming election: by taking the time to cast your ballot.

For more information about elections in Mississippi, visit Y’all Vote at www.yallvote.sos.ms.gov or call your Municipal Clerk.  (As a reminder, not all municipalities will conduct a general election.)

See you at the polls—and do not forget your photo ID!

Delbert Hosemann, Secretary of State