We Cannot Check Out in 2026

By Rep. Timaka James-Jones

Let’s be honest — a lot of Black folks in Mississippi are tired. Tired of feeling like our votes don’t change much. Tired of watching decisions get made that don’t reflect what our communities actually need.

But 2026 is not the year to check out.

From the Delta to Jackson, what’s on the ballot touches our everyday lives — healthcare, jobs, public schools, safe neighborhoods, fair representation. And while we’re preparing for elections, lawmakers are also moving major election legislation during the 2026 session that could directly shape how, and whether, our voices are heard.

This year, we’re seeing proposals tied to the federal Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act). The SAVE Act would require documentary proof of citizenship — such as a passport or birth certificate — to register or re-register to vote in federal elections. On its face, it’s framed as election integrity. In practice, it risks creating new barriers for eligible voters, particularly married women whose names have changed, seniors without updated documents, rural voters, and low-income residents who may not have easy access to paperwork.

At the state level, Mississippi lawmakers have also debated versions of a “shield” proposal — often referred to as the SHIELD Act — aimed at tightening voter eligibility verification and expanding enforcement mechanisms around election procedures. While proponents argue these measures strengthen confidence in elections, civil rights advocates warn that layered documentation requirements and expanded enforcement authority could have a chilling effect, especially in communities that already face obstacles to voting.

At the same time, multiple 2026 election bills are addressing absentee voting procedures, voter roll maintenance, ballot curing timelines, and administrative oversight of county election officials. Each of these policy decisions might sound technical — but they determine who can vote early, whose ballot gets counted if there’s a clerical error, and how quickly voter challenges can move forward.

We’ve seen before how district lines and voting rules can either lift our voices or water them down. That’s not politics as usual — that’s power.

And power matters.

We can’t afford to only show up when it’s a presidential race. Local and legislative elections shape what happens in our hospitals, our schools, our water systems, and our neighborhoods. They also determine who writes the election laws in the first place.

If we don’t vote, someone else decides for us — and they may also decide the rules of the game.

Our history in Mississippi proves one thing: when we organize and turn out, things shift. Maybe not overnight. Maybe not perfectly. But they move. From Freedom Summer to modern fights over redistricting and ballot access, engagement has always been the lever.

In 2026, it’s simple. If we care about our future, we’ve got to show up for it.

We have a matter of days before the upcoming primary election. Don’t let fatigue steal your voice. Don’t let new barriers intimidate you. Don’t sit out while decisions are being made about you and without you.

This year — more than ever — participation is protection. Make your voice heard. VOTE.

Mississippi State Rep. Timaka James-Jones represents District 51, encompassing Humpheys, Sharkey, Holmes, Yazoo, and Leflore Counties. This editorial was published in the www.thepeoplespaperms.com.