Secretary Michael Watson Update

Michael Watson - Secretary of State

Friday, April 17, 2020


Joe

(pictured: Joe of Soso, Mississippi)

Mississippi Strong

Easter Sunday tornadoes caused heartbreak and catastrophic damage to communities across our state. At this time, many residents are in need of food, clothing, shelter and comfort. During our visit to Jones County, we noticed a man unable to leave his driveway due to the piles of storm debris surrounding his home. Mr. Joe (pictured above) took a break from repairing his own roof to help us finish clearing debris from his neighbor’s driveway. May we all find ways to safely help our neighbors in need during this historic time. The road ahead may seem long, but Mississippi will recover and we will come out of this stronger than we were before.


sba

Disaster Loan Assistance

If you live in an area affected by the severe storms and tornadoes that hit our state on Sunday, April 12th, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Disaster loans are available to help individuals, homeowners, renters, businesses, and private non-profits recover from the tragic storms. 

 Click here to learn more about the types of loans available. 

Click here to apply for a disaster loan.


salute

Salute to Seniors

Governor Reeves announced Mississippi schools will remain closed for the rest of the semester. The news devastated many students, especially graduating seniors all across our state. Our office wants to honor the class of 2020 by presenting a special Salute to Seniors on our social media pages. If you know a 2020 graduate, please share a picture of them on our Facebook or Twitter page. Don't forget to include the graduate's full name and the name of their high school. Mississippi is full of bright and gifted students, and I look forward to helping them celebrate this special milestone.

Click here to share a photo on Facebook.
Click here to share a photo on Twitter. 


OnlineNotary

Remote Notarization

Our office was proud to provide Mississippi notaries public with a remote option during the COVID-19 emergency. Executive Order 1467, effective April 7, 2020, authorizes notarial acts by remote notarization and remote online notarization under the Secretary of State’s temporary guidance. This waiver allows Mississippians to conduct business and tend to vital transactions while still following the guidelines of the shelter-in-place order. 

Click here to read the guidelines for remote notarization.


Pastor

Census Outreach Efforts

The 2020 Census is an opportunity for our state to receive billions of dollars in federal funding for critical programs across the state. The amount of money Mississippi receives relies directly on the responses of our residents. Religious leaders play a key role in spreading the word about the importance of a complete and accurate count. I had the opportunity to speak with pastors about outreach efforts during a conference call with Congressman Palazzo’s office, Senator Roger Wicker, and Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith. As trusted voices in their communities, pastors have the ability to reach residents in areas that were previously undercounted. I look forward to working with more leaders across the state to help secure adequate funding for Mississippi. 

Recent News


YallPolitics

Y'all Politics: Secretary Watson says online voter registration on the table

Secretary of State Michael Watson spoke with Y’all Politics on how his office is handling the issues COVID-19 has created for businesses and voting.

Click here to read more. 

BonnetCarre

The Natchez Democrat: Bonnet Carré Spillway opened; Mississippi official disappointed by decision

The Mississippi River is so high that a spillway west of New Orleans must be opened to safeguard the city’s levees, an Army Corps of Engineers official announced Thursday (April 2, 2020). That will make an unprecedented third straight year, and the sixth time this decade, that the Bonnet Carré Spillway has been opened.

Click here to read more. 


Staff Spotlight

ColtonRobinson

COLTON ROBINSON

Hometown: Batesville, MS

Colton Robinson interned with the Secretary of State's Office in 2015 and joined our team in January 2020 as the Legislative Liaison. Often times, he is the first person to enter the building and the last person to leave. His passion for our great state is unmatched, and he is constantly looking for ways to help out a fellow Mississippian.  In his spare time, Colton enjoys hunting, camping, and playing with his two West-Highland Terriers. Thankful to have you on the team, Colton!