Mississippi election is almost here!

There is no early voting in Mississippi. All absentee ballots must be postmarked no later than November 3rd. On Election Day, voting hours are from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm at approved county locations. This year’s election is for federal offices. Voters will choose a new senator and all congressional seats. You can check your voter status, sample ballot, and poll locations at the Secretary of State's website.

To help inform voters, our friends at NORML provided a federal voter guide. In the Senate race, current U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) received a “D” from NORML. In 2023, she voted against advancing legislation that would have allowed the Veterans Administration to study cannabis for PTSD and chronic pain. In December 2025, she signed onto a letter asking President Trump not to reschedule cannabis from Schedule I.

Scott Colom (D) is currently the District Attorney for the 16th District in Northern Mississippi. He was nominated by President Biden to be the U.S. federal judge for North Mississippi, although the Senate did not confirm him. While Mr. Colom has not spoken on cannabis policy in this campaign, as a former prosecutor, he emphasized pre-trial diversion programs for non-violent offenses over automatic incarceration. He also started the use of drug courts in his district.

While it is important to vote in every election, this year’s vote will be a warm-up for state elections next year. In 2023, only 32.5% of eligible voters cast their ballot, and the current legislature we have is a direct result of low voter participation. A vast majority of cannabis-related bills were not granted hearings in the past few years. In 2026, the two bills that would have expanded medical access were vetoed by term-limited Gov. Tate Reeves (R). 

In 2027, the entire legislature will be up for election, as well as state offices, including governor and lieutenant governor. That election will set the tone for cannabis policy reform in the following four years.