Mississippi Will Hold Judicial Elections November 3

Voters across Mississippi are set to head to the polls to decide on numerous contested judicial races this year.

Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Criminal Justice

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a courthouse facade with stone columns, representing the state judicial system. — Mississippi voters will participate in non-partisan judicial elections on November 3, determining the composition of courts across the state. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Mississippi will hold judicial elections on November 3, 2026, allowing citizens to cast ballots in several key court races. Voters will participate in non-partisan contests across multiple levels of the state judiciary.

Why it matters

These elections are critical as they determine the individuals who will serve in various courts across the state. The outcomes of these races will shape the composition of the judiciary and the administration of justice for the local community.

The upcoming election features one contested Court of Appeals race, 14 contested Chancery Court races, and 11 contested Circuit Court races. These contests represent a portion of the 125 total judicial seats up for election this cycle.

The players

Mississippi Court of Appeals

This is an intermediate appellate court that hears cases assigned by the state supreme court.

Chancery Court

This court handles cases involving equity, such as family law, estates, and real property disputes.

Circuit Court

This is the state's primary trial court for both civil and criminal matters.

The details

Mississippi judicial elections feature non-partisan candidates appearing on the ballot for each seat. A race is defined as contested when more than one candidate qualifies to appear on the ballot for that specific position.

Mississippi judicial elections occur on November 3, 2026.

Legal Context

These elections are conducted in accordance with the Mississippi judicial election laws governing non-partisan candidate selection. This framework ensures that judicial candidates appear on the ballot without party affiliation, a process that sets these contests apart from partisan legislative races.

Residents should prepare to research non-partisan candidates on their local ballots to understand how these selections will influence their community. This election will ultimately determine which officials preside over local cases, family law, and estate disputes.

The takeaway

Voters should review the list of candidates in their specific districts to make informed decisions before visiting the polls. These elections offer the public a direct opportunity to impact the judicial leadership serving their local jurisdictions.