Pearl, Mississippi Public Records

The sex offender registry is accessible to the public, providing information on registered offenders residing in Rankin County. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation assists in maintaining statewide criminal records, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information for residents.

Acceptable identification includes a Mississippi driver's license, photo ID issued by any branch or agency of the U.S. government or Mississippi government, U.S. passport, employee photo ID from any branch of U.S. or Mississippi government, firearms license with photo, student photo ID from an accredited Mississippi university or community college, tribal photo ID, or a Mississippi Voter Identification Card available free from the Circuit Clerk. Municipal elections in Pearl follow a four-year cycle, with the most recent held in June 2021 and the next scheduled for June 2025. Voters elect the mayor and six city council members by ward during these elections, which typically occur on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June during municipal election years. Municipal primary elections take place in May if needed. Local candidates, sample ballots, and municipal issues can be researched through the Pearl City Hall website at www.pearlms.org and the Rankin County Circuit Clerk's office. Unlike many states, Mississippi holds municipal elections as separate spring and summer events rather than including city offices in November general elections. Residents can locate their assigned polling place using the Y'all Vote Mississippi website at www.yallvote.sos.ms.gov by entering their name and date of birth or address. The system displays precinct information, polling location addresses, and sample ballots. The county typically operates polling places at schools, community centers, and public buildings throughout the city. Publicly accessible Mississippi election records include voter registration rolls (available for purchase for political purposes), campaign finance reports filed with the Mississippi Secretary of State (searchable at www.sos.ms.gov), candidate qualifying information, and precinct-level election results published after each election. The Rankin County Circuit Clerk publishes unofficial results on election night, with certified results available within days. In the November 2024 presidential election, Rankin County reported approximately 68-72% voter turnout among registered voters, with strong Republican performance typical of Rankin County's conservative electorate. Over 51,000 votes were cast in the presidential race, with detailed precinct results available through the Mississippi Secretary of State's website. Looking ahead to November 3, 2026, Pearl and Rankin County voters will decide several important races. The 2026 election cycle does not include gubernatorial races (Mississippi governors are elected in odd-numbered years, with the next election in 2027), but voters will decide contests for U.S. House of Representatives (Mississippi's 3rd Congressional District, which includes Pearl), Mississippi State Senate and House of Representatives seats representing Pearl's districts, and various county offices including circuit clerk, chancery clerk, sheriff, tax assessor, tax collector, and county supervisors. Specific state legislative districts serving the city include portions of Mississippi State Senate districts and State House districts, with candidates filing in the months preceding the election. County offices and legislative seats follow the federal election cycle for even-numbered years. Mississippi offers absentee voting for qualified voters who meet specific criteria including age 65 or older, temporary or permanent physical disability, persons who are caregivers for dependents requiring their care on election day, required to be away from county on election day, or required to work on election day during all hours polls are open. Absentee ballot applications must be submitted to the Rankin County Circuit Clerk's office, with mailed absentee ballots requiring application by 5 business days before election day, and in-person absentee voting available at the Circuit Clerk's office during business hours beginning 45 days before the election until the Saturday before election day at noon. Mississippi does not offer universal vote-by-mail or no-excuse absentee voting; voters must qualify under one of the enumerated categories. All Mississippi voters are required to show photo ID when voting in person or include a copy of acceptable photo ID with absentee ballot applications.