Lee County votes Tuesday, Nov. 3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.: U.S. Senate, U.S. House and a Court of Appeals seat. Bring photo ID; find your polling place here.

Updated Nov. 3: polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today; the candidates on the Lee County ballot are listed below, from the Secretary of State’s qualifying list. Any voter in line at 7 p.m. is legally entitled to cast a ballot, the Secretary of State’s office said in its Election Day reminders.

Last checked Nov. 3, 2026. Facts on this page come from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s 2026 election calendar (PDF), its voter information pages and the Lee County Circuit Clerk’s office. This page lists facts only; we do not endorse candidates.

Lee County’s next election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, the federal and judicial general election. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mississippi has no early voting; voters who qualify can vote absentee, in person at the Circuit Clerk’s office or by mail. The voter registration deadline for this election was Monday, Oct. 5.

Who to call

  • Registration, absentee voting and voter ID: Lee County Circuit Clerk, 662-432-2300, 200 W. Jefferson St., Tupelo
  • Find your polling place and sample ballot: My Election Day (Mississippi Secretary of State)
  • State elections hotline: Mississippi Secretary of State, 800-829-6786
  • Mailing address: Lee County Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 762, Tupelo, MS 38802

Key dates

From the Secretary of State’s 2026 election calendar:

Date What happens
Monday, Sept. 21 In-person absentee voting opened for the general election
Monday, Oct. 5 Voter registration deadline (passed)
Saturday, Oct. 24 Circuit Clerk’s office open for absentee voting, 8 a.m. to noon
Saturday, Oct. 31 Last day of in-person absentee voting; office open 8 a.m. to noon
Monday, Nov. 2 Registration deadline for the Dec. 1 runoff
Tuesday, Nov. 3 General election, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 10 Mail absentee ballots must arrive by 5 p.m. (postmarked by Nov. 3)
Saturday, Nov. 21 and Nov. 28 Office open for runoff absentee voting, 8 a.m. to noon
Tuesday, Dec. 1 Runoff election, if needed

What is on the ballot

The Secretary of State’s candidate qualifying list shows these contested races for Lee County voters. Names are in the order the list gives them.

U.S. Senate (every Mississippi voter):

  • Scott Colom, Democrat
  • Ty Pinkins, independent
  • Cindy Hyde-Smith, Republican, the incumbent

U.S. House, 1st Congressional District (Lee County is in the 1st District):

  • Johnny Baucom, Libertarian
  • Cliff Johnson, Democrat
  • Trent Kelly, Republican, the incumbent

Mississippi Court of Appeals, District 1, Position 1 (nonpartisan special election):

  • Derek Dewayne Hopson Jr.
  • John Weddle, appointed to the seat by Gov. Tate Reeves in 2024, according to the governor’s announcement

Lee County is in Court of Appeals District 1, which covers north Mississippi.

The same list shows one qualified candidate each for the four First Chancery Court District seats and the four First Circuit Court District seats, the two trial-court districts that include Lee County. Some precincts may also have school board races. Your exact ballot depends on your precinct: look it up on My Election Day or ask the Circuit Clerk. Every race has a write-in line.

Results

Polls close at 7 p.m. Counts reported on election night are unofficial until the county certifies them. Certified results by county are posted on the Secretary of State’s election results page. A runoff for judicial and school board races, if needed, is Tuesday, Dec. 1.

At the polling place

From the Secretary of State’s Election Day reminders:

  • Campaigning within 150 feet of a polling place entrance is against the law, unless on private property.
  • The area within 30 feet of the entrance should be clear except for election officials, voters waiting to vote and authorized poll watchers.
  • Do not photograph your marked ballot.
  • Report a problem to the Elections Division at 800-829-6786.

Where to vote in Tupelo

Your polling place depends on your precinct, and Tupelo has several. Look it up on My Election Day by name and county, or call the Circuit Clerk at 662-432-2300. Your voter registration card also lists your precinct. Polling places can move between elections, so check before each one.

Registering and updating your address

Mississippi has no online voter registration. Register in person at the Circuit Clerk’s office, 200 W. Jefferson St., or at a municipal clerk’s office, or by mail with the state form. You can register at 17 if you will be 18 by the next general election, and you must be registered 30 days before an election. Use the same form to change your address after a move within the county.

Absentee voting

Mississippi allows absentee voting only for listed reasons, among them being 65 or older, being away from the county on Election Day, or a temporary or permanent disability. You can vote absentee in person at the Circuit Clerk’s office or request a ballot by mail; the Secretary of State’s absentee voting guide (PDF) explains the steps. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and reach the Circuit Clerk within five business days. Military and overseas voters should use the Secretary of State’s military and overseas page.

Photo ID

Bring a government-issued photo ID: a driver’s license, a state-issued photo ID, a U.S. passport, a government employee ID, a firearms license, a student photo ID from an accredited Mississippi college or university, a U.S. military ID, a tribal photo ID or a Mississippi Voter Identification Card. The Circuit Clerk’s office issues the voter ID card free of charge. A voter without ID can cast an affidavit ballot and has until Nov. 10 at 5 p.m. to show ID at the Circuit Clerk’s office.

City elections

Tupelo’s mayor and City Council are elected in separate municipal elections, not on the Nov. 3 ballot. See who to call at City Hall for your current council member.

What this means for you

  • Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3: polls 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you are in line at 7 p.m., stay in line.
  • In-person absentee voting has closed. A mailed absentee ballot must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and reach the Circuit Clerk by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10.
  • Bring a photo ID.
  • Missed the Oct. 5 deadline? Register now for future elections.

Frequently asked questions

When is the next election in Lee County, Mississippi?

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The ballot includes U.S. Senate, U.S. House (1st District) and the Court of Appeals District 1, Position 1 seat. A runoff for judicial and school board races, if needed, is Tuesday, Dec. 1.

Can I vote early in Tupelo?

No. Mississippi does not allow early voting. Voters who qualify can vote absentee in person at the Lee County Circuit Clerk’s office or by mail.

What ID do I need to vote in Mississippi?

A government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, U.S. passport, military ID, Mississippi college student ID or a free Mississippi Voter Identification Card from the Circuit Clerk’s office.

Where do I vote in Tupelo?

It depends on your precinct. Look up your polling place on the Mississippi Secretary of State’s My Election Day site or call the Lee County Circuit Clerk at 662-432-2300.

When is the last day to vote absentee in person in Lee County?

Saturday, Oct. 31, at noon. State law requires circuit clerks’ offices to open 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 24, and Saturday, Oct. 31, for in-person absentee voting.