Some Mississippians are in disbelief that major candidates for President of the United States need 500 validated signatures to be placed on the primary ballot. Look at what Michael Watson, the Secretary of State of Mississippi, has posted online (page 14 of the 2023 Candidate Qualifying Guide):
FOR U.S. PRESIDENT:
As a Political Party Candidate for the Presidential Preference Primary: 1) A Statement of Intent for a Candidate for Party Nomination, and
2) Petition, signed by not less than five hundred (500) qualified electors (registered voters) of the state OR not less than one hundred (100) qualified electors (registered voters) of each Congressional district of the state,
a. All petition signatures must be certified by each Circuit Clerk’s Office of the county from where the signatures were collected, and
b. All “header” information must be completed on each petition page prior to obtaining voters’ signatures.
3) Qualifying fee made payable to the respective State Party Executive Committee in the amount of $2,500.00,
4) Filed with the State Party Executive Committee,
5) No later than 5:00 p.m. on the date of the applicable deadline.
o If qualifying by mail, the date of the applicable deadline is not a post-mark deadline, but an actual receipt deadline. The State Party Executive Committee must be in actual receipt of the candidate’s qualifying papers and fee by 5:00 p.m., on the date of the applicable deadline.
