JACKSON, Miss. –  Secretary of State Michael Watson released the linked video above regarding the 2024 Presidential Election. Below is the full transcript, as prepared.
 
Full Transcript:

Welcome back to the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office. As you know, through our Elections 101 campaign, our team has been committed to ensuring Mississippians are educated on the elections process and requirements. Over the last several weeks, our country has seen historic events which foster numerous questions and debates, and as we know, in an absence of information, rumors and disinformation run rampant.

Today, I want to take a second to provide you with trusted information regarding the path moving forward in the 2024 Presidential Election.

In Mississippi, two separate elections are held during the presidential cycle—the primary and the general. Each election is bound by a separate process and requirements. Unlike other Mississippi elections, each of these elections have their own qualifying procedures completely independent of each other.

Mississippians should note political parties are not required to hold a presidential preference primary by law. These primaries are very different from those during gubernatorial election years, when statewide elected officials are elected. Unlike primaries in those years, the winner of the presidential preference primary in Mississippi does not automatically advance to the general election ballot. Rather, the presidential primary election is a vehicle political parties may utilize to decide who their respective delegates will nominate during the party’s national conventions.

For reference, the Libertarian Party did not participate in the primary election process in 2020, however they selected a candidate at their convention and filed the necessary paperwork to have their nominee on the general election ballot.

While President Biden appeared on the Mississippi Democratic primary ballot and won as an uncontested candidate, his withdrawal does not leave a vacancy on the ballot but merely changes the Democratic Party’s path moving forward. The Democratic Party’s delegates will select a candidate based on the Party’s internal rules.

The nominee of the Democratic Party, along with every other party nominee and independent candidate seeking to be placed on the November general election ballot, will be required to submit all necessary paperwork by September 6th. This includes a certificate of nomination from the national party convention, or similar assembly of a political party, showing the candidate received the party’s nomination.

As of today, we have received no party’s submission of official documentation for the general election.

It is my hope, this update provides you with the necessary information to ensure, as we communicate on a daily basis with our friends and family, we all spread trusted information. Further, I encourage you no matter what side of the aisle you may find yourself, to ensure we are treating all of God’s children with the same respect and love as He showed us. These are trying times, and we must remain vigilant of the truth.

As always, please reach out to our office should you have questions.

Thank you, and God bless!