Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-152 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-152
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-152
Status: in_force

(1) For the purposes of this section, “ confirmation notice ” means a notice sent by the election commissioners, by forwardable mail, with return postage prepaid, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, to a registered voter to confirm the registered voter's current address. The notice shall comply with all applicable requirements of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.

(2) The election commissioners shall send a confirmation notice to the following:

(a) A registered voter if it appears from the United States Postal Service change-of-address information that the registered voter has moved to a different residence;

(b) A registered voter if a county election commissioner or county registrar has received notice from another state, or political subdivision of another state, that the registered voter has registered to vote in another state;

(c) A registered voter who has failed to vote at least once in any election or update his or her registration during a period that begins in the year of a presidential preference primary and extends until the next general election for President of the United States that does not occur in the same year as the beginning of the period; or

(d) A registered voter if the registrar or election commissioners have received reliable information that he or she has moved within or outside of the state. Reliable information includes, but is not limited to: official mail returned as undeliverable by the county election commission, registrar or other county or municipal office, Secretary of State; application for homestead exemption filed by the voter at an address other than the address of current registration; or any information from another state or county entity indicating the voter no longer resides at the address of voter registration.

No registered voter shall be sent a confirmation notice under paragraph (c) of this subsection if he or she has been sent a confirmation notice for those same reasons within the last six (6) years.

(3) The county election commissioners shall place any registered voter who has been sent a confirmation notice on inactive status in the Statewide Elections Management System. Any registered voter who is placed on inactive status shall be unable to cast a regular ballot on election day but shall be able to cast an affidavit ballot as provided in Section 23-15-573 .

(4) A registered voter “fails to respond to the confirmation notice” if the voter, during a period beginning on the date the confirmation notice was sent and ending on the day after the date of the second general election for federal office that occurs after the date of the notice, fails to:

(a) Respond to the confirmation notice; or

(b) Update the elector's registration information.

A registered voter who votes at least once in any election in the registered voter's county or municipality of registration during the period beginning from the date of the delivery of the confirmation notice provided in this subsection (4) or who is active or reserve military or who serves on jury duty or responds to a summons for jury duty shall not be purged from the Statewide Elections Management System.

(5) The county registrar or county election commission shall move those registered voters who fail to respond to the confirmation notice as provided in subsection (4) of this section and who fail to vote as provided in subsection (4) of this section to purged status in the Statewide Elections Management System.

(6) No systematic list maintenance shall occur during the ninety (90) days immediately preceding a federal primary or general election which is limited to moving a voter to inactive status in subsection (2) of this section or purged status in subsection (5) of this section.

(7) The county registrar shall retain purged voter registration records after they are purged for a period that includes at least two (2) federal general elections and shall record the reason for the removal.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-731 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-731
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-731
Status: reserved

Any presidential absentee ballots received in the mail by the registrar after the delivery of ballot boxes to the election managers and before the deadline for receipt of absentee ballots provided for in Section 23-15-637 shall be retained by the registrar and shall be delivered, together with the applications of the qualified absentee elector to an election official designated to receive them. The registrar shall receive a receipt from the designated election official for all such ballots and applications delivered. The designated election officials shall, upon the canvassing of the returns, count such ballots as if delivered to the proper precincts and such ballots shall be considered valid for all purposes as if they had been actually deposited in the proper precinct ballot boxes. The appropriate election officials shall examine the affidavit of each envelope. If the officials are satisfied that the affidavit is sufficient and that the absentee voter is otherwise qualified to vote, an official shall announce the name of the voter and shall give any person present an opportunity to challenge in like manner and for the same cause as the voter could have been challenged had he or she presented himself or herself personally in such precinct to vote. The ineligibility of the voter to vote by absentee ballot shall be a ground for a challenge. The officials shall consider any absentee voter challenged when a person has previously filed a written challenge of such voter's right to vote. The election officials shall handle any such challenge in the same manner as other challenged ballots are handled, and if the challenge is not affirmed, the officials shall then open the envelope. The officials shall then open the envelope in such manner as not to destroy the affidavit printed thereon and shall deposit the ballot marked “OFFICIAL ABSENTEE BALLOT,” in a ballot box reserved for absentee ballots. The commissioners shall endorse on their pollbooks a proper notation to indicate that the absentee voter has voted in such election by absentee ballot.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-301 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-301
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-301
Status: in_force

All the expenses of printing the tickets or primary election ballots, for necessary stationery, and for paying the managers, clerks and returning officer of every primary election authorized by this chapter held in any county shall be paid by the board of supervisors of such county out of the general funds of the county, but such officers of primary elections shall receive only such compensation as is authorized by Section 23-15-227 to be paid managers, clerks and returning officer for like services in holding elections thereunder. However, this section shall not apply to the expenses of a primary election held by any political party which at either of the last two (2) preceding general elections for the office of Governor or either of the last two (2) preceding national elections for President of the United States did not vote as many as twenty percent (20%) of the total vote cast in the entire state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-873 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-873
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-873
Status: in_force

(1) No person, whether an officer or not, shall, in order to promote his or her own candidacy, or that of any other person, to be a candidate for public office in this state, directly or indirectly, himself, or herself or through another person, promise to appoint, or promise to secure or assist in securing the appointment, nomination or election of another person to any public position or employment, or to secure or assist in securing any public contract or the employment of any person under any public contractor, or to secure or assist in securing the expenditure of any public funds in the personal behalf of any particular person or group of persons, except that the candidate may publicly announce what is his or her choice or purpose in relation to an election in which he or she may be called on to take part if elected.

(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to directly or indirectly solicit or receive any promise by this section prohibited, but this does not apply to any person when it comes to their office force.

(3) Any violation of this section shall constitute a violation of Section 97-13-37 and shall be referred to the district attorney for prosecution.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-261 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-261
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-261
Status: in_force

The election commissioners shall, after each election, make out a list of all persons who served as poll managers at the election, designating for what service each is entitled to pay, certify to the correctness of the same, and file it with the clerk of the board of supervisors. An allowance shall not be made to any such officer unless his or her service be so certified.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-229 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-229
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-229
Status: in_force

The compensation for poll managers and other workers in the polling places of a municipality shall be the same as the compensation paid by the county for those services; provided, however, that the governing authorities of a municipality shall not be required to pay any additional compensation authorized by the board of supervisors. The governing authorities of a municipality may, in their discretion, pay clerks and poll managers in the polling places of the municipality an additional amount of compensation not to exceed Seventy-five Dollars ($75.00) per election. Such compensation shall be payable out of the municipal general fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-266 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-266
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-266
Status: in_force

A county or municipal executive committee shall be eligible to enter into written agreements with a circuit or municipal clerk or a county or municipal election commission as provided for in Section 23-15-239(2) , 23-15-265(2) , 23-15-267(4) , 23-15-333(4) , 23-15-335(2) or 23-15-597(2) , only if the political party with which such county or municipal executive committee is affiliated:

(a) Has cast for its candidate for Governor in the last two (2) gubernatorial elections ten percent (10%) of the total vote cast for governor; or

(b) Has cast for its candidate for Governor in three (3) of the last five (5) gubernatorial elections twenty-five percent (25%) of the total vote cast for Governor.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-303 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-303
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-303
Status: in_force

When two (2) or more political parties or political organizations are holding primary elections, each shall be conducted entirely independent of the other but at the same time.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-607 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-607
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-607
Status: in_force

(1) The election commissioners shall, within ten (10) days after an election for judges of the Supreme Court or Court of Appeals, transmit to the Secretary of State, to be filed in his or her office, a statement of the whole number of votes given in their county, and the whole number of votes given in each precinct in their county, for each candidate for the Office of Judge of the Supreme Court or Court of Appeals, and the Secretary of State shall immediately notify each member of the State Board of Election Commissioners in writing to assemble at his or her office on a day to be fixed by him or her, to be within ten (10) days after the receipt by him or her of such statement, and when assembled pursuant to such notice the State Board of Election Commissioners shall sum up the whole number of votes given for each candidate for judge of the Supreme Court or Court of Appeals according to the total number of votes in each county for each candidate as certified to the Secretary of State, ascertain the person or persons to be elected; and thereupon all persons chosen to such office at the election shall be commissioned by the Governor; but if it appears that two (2) or more candidates for judge of the Supreme Court or Court of Appeals standing highest on the list, and not elected, have an equal number of votes, the election shall be decided between the candidates having an equal number of votes by each candidate individually drawing one (1) of the two (2) sealed containers from an opaque bag, under the direction of the Governor and Secretary of State. The containers shall consist of a straw of conspicuous length, and the candidate drawing the container with the longer of the two (2) straws shall be declared the winner.

(2) The statements required by this section shall contain a certification, signed and dated by a majority of the election commissioners, which shall read as follows:

“We, the undersigned election commissioners, do hereby certify that this statement of the whole number of votes contain the official vote for the election reflected therein.”

(3) The statements required by this section shall be transmitted to the Secretary of State on such forms and by such methods as may be required by rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of State.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-771 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-771
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-771
Status: in_force

At the state convention, a slate of electors composed of the number of electors allotted to this state, which said electors announce a clearly expressed design and purpose to support the candidates for President and Vice-President of the national political party with which the said party of this state has had an affiliation and identity of purpose heretofore, shall be designated and selected for a place upon the primary election ballot to be held as herein provided.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-851 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-851
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-851
Status: in_force

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, within thirty (30) days after vacancies occur in either house of the Legislature, the Governor shall issue writs of election to fill the vacancies on a day specified in the writ of election. At least sixty (60) days' notice shall be given of the election in each county or part of a county in which the election shall be held. The qualifying deadline for the election shall be fifty (50) days before the election. Notice of the election shall be posted at the courthouse and in each supervisors district in the county or part of county in which such election shall be held for as near sixty (60) days as may be practicable. The election shall be prepared for and held as in the case of a general election.

(2) If a vacancy occurs in a calendar year in which the general election for state officers is held, the Governor may elect not to issue a writ of election to fill the vacancy.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-169 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-169
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-169
Status: in_force

The Secretary of State shall, by rule and regulation, establish an administrative complaint procedure for handling grievances in accordance with the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-295 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-295
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-295
Status: in_force

When any person has qualified in the manner provided by law as a candidate for party nomination in any primary election, such person shall have the right to withdraw his or her name as a candidate by giving notice of his or her withdrawal in writing to the secretary of the proper executive committee at any time before the printing of the official ballots, and in the event of such withdrawal the name of the candidate shall not be printed on the ballot. When a candidate for party nomination for a state or district office who has qualified with the state executive committee withdraws as a candidate as is herein set forth after the sample of the official ballot has been approved and certified by the state executive committee the secretary or chair of the State Executive Committee shall forthwith notify the county executive committee of each county affected or involved of the fact of the withdrawal and such notification shall authorize the county executive committees to omit the name of the withdrawn candidate from the ballot if such notification is received before the printing of the ballot. In the case of the withdrawal of any candidate, the fee paid by the candidate shall be retained by the state or county executive committee, as the case may be.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-281 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-281
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-281
Status: in_force

(1) Each county shall be divided into supervisors districts, which shall be the same as those for the election of members of the board of supervisors, and may be subdivided thereafter into voting precincts; and there shall be only one (1) voting place in each voting precinct. The board of supervisors shall notify the Office of the Secretary of State of the boundary of each supervisors district, sub-precinct and voting precinct as then fixed and shall provide the office a legal description and a map of each supervisors district, sub-precinct and voting precinct and shall indicate the voting place in each such district. The board of supervisors shall also ensure the legal description and map of each supervisors district is available in the circuit clerk's office for public inspection.

(2) The board of supervisors is authorized, by order spread upon the minutes of the board setting forth the cost and source of funds therefor, to purchase improved or unimproved property and to construct, reconstruct, repair, renovate and maintain polling places, or to pay to private property owners reasonable rental fees when the property is used as a polling place for a period not to exceed the day immediately preceding the election, the day of the election, and the day immediately following the election. On or before May 1, 2019, the county board of supervisors shall ensure each polling place is accessible to all voters, structurally sound, capable of providing air conditioning and heating and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

(3) All facilities owned or leased by the state, county, municipality, or school district may be made available at no cost to the board of supervisors for use as polling places to such extent as may be agreed to by the authority having control or custody of these facilities.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-633 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-633
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-633
Status: in_force

(1) On any envelope where the elector's signature and the signature of the attesting witness are required, the signature lines and the signatures shall be in the boxes across the flap of the envelope to ensure the integrity of the ballot and the following shall be printed on the flap on the back of the envelope in bold print and in a distinguishing color: “ YOUR VOTE WILL BE REJECTED AND NOT COUNTED IF THIS ENVELOPE IS NOT SIGNED BY YOU AND AN ATTESTING WITNESS IN THE BOXES ACROSS THE FLAP OF THIS ENVELOPE. ”

A portion of the elector's signature extending outside of the box shall not be grounds for rejecting that elector's ballot.

(2) For in-person absentee ballot envelopes, the form of the envelope shall comply with the provisions of Section 23-15-659 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-61 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-61
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-61
Status: in_force

Any person denied the right to register as a voter may appeal from the decision of the county registrar to the board of election commissioners by filing with the county registrar, on the same day of the denial or within five (5) days after the denial, a written application for appeal.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-79 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-79
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-79
Status: in_force

(1) Unless the application for registration was made pursuant to Section 23-15-47 , the date of registration to vote shall be the date the application for registration to vote was initially received by the registrar or, if submitted by mail, the postmark date, regardless of the date on which the county election commission, circuit court or Supreme Court, as the case may be, makes its final determination allowing the registration.

(2) In the case of an application for registration that has been made pursuant to Section 23-15-47 , the date of registration to vote shall be the date the complete and legible application form is received by the county registrar, or, if mailed, the postmark date of the complete and legible application.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-17-25 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 17 / Section 17-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-17-25
Status: in_force

If the Secretary of State refuses to file an initiative petition when submitted to him for filing, the person submitting it for filing, within ten (10) days after his refusal, may apply to the Supreme Court for an order requiring the Secretary of State to bring the petition before the court and for a writ of mandamus to compel him to file it. The application shall be considered an emergency matter of public concern and shall be heard and determined with all convenient speed. If the Supreme Court decides that the petition is legal in form, apparently contains the requisite number of signatures of qualified electors, was filed within the time prescribed in the Constitution and was accompanied with the proper filing fee, it shall issue its mandate directing the Secretary of State to file the petition in his office as of the date of submission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-817 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-817
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-817
Status: in_force

The Secretary of State shall compile a list of all candidates for the Legislature or any statewide office who fail to file a campaign disclosure report by the dates specified in Section 23-15-807(b) . The list shall be provided to the Mississippi Ethics Commission so that the commission may bring a mandamus as provided in Section 23-15-811 or take any other disciplinary action as provided in this chapter. The list shall also be disseminated to the members of the Mississippi Press Association within two (2) working days after such reports are due and made available to the public.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-697 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-697
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-697
Status: in_force

When the absentee ballot has been voted and the envelope sealed, signed and certified to as provided above, the absentee voter shall mail the envelope containing the ballot to the registrar.

Hand-delivery of ballots to a voter or from a voter shall be prohibited, and the use of drop boxes or other mechanisms to submit a completed absentee ballot other than by mail or common carrier, shall be prohibited.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-7 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-7
Status: in_force

(1) The Secretary of State shall negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding which shall be entered into by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety and the registrar of each county for the purpose of providing a Mississippi Voter Identification Card. The card shall be valid for the purpose of voter identification purposes under Section 23-15-563 and available only to registered voters of this state. No fee shall be charged or collected for the application for or issuance of a Mississippi Voter Identification Card. Any costs associated with the application for or issuance of a Mississippi Voter Identification Card shall be made payable from the state's General Fund.

(2) The registrar of each county shall provide a location in the registrar's office at which he or she shall accept applications for Mississippi Voter Identification Cards in accordance with the Mississippi Constitution; however, in counties having two (2) judicial districts the registrar shall provide a location in the registrar's office in each judicial district at which he or she shall accept applications for Mississippi Voter Identification Cards in accordance with the Mississippi Constitution.

(3) No person shall be eligible for a Mississippi Voter Identification Card if the person has a valid unexpired Mississippi driver's license or an identification card issued under Section 45-35-1 et seq.

(4)(a) The Mississippi Voter Identification Card shall be captioned “MISSISSIPPI VOTER IDENTIFICATION CARD” and shall contain a prominent statement that under Mississippi law it is valid only as identification for voting purposes. The identification card shall include the following information regarding the applicant:

(i) Full legal name;

(ii) Legal residence address;

(iii) Mailing address, if different; and

(iv) Voting information.

(b) The Mississippi Voter Identification Card shall also contain the date the voter identification card was issued, the county in which the voter is registered and such other information as required by the Secretary of State.

(5) The application shall be signed and sworn to by the applicant and any falsification or fraud in the making of the application shall constitute false swearing under Section 97-7-35 .

(6) The registrar shall require presentation and verification of any of the following information during the application process before issuance of a Mississippi Voter Identification Card:

(a) A photo identity document; or

(b) Documentation showing the person's date and place of birth; or

(c) A social security card; or

(d) A Medicare card; or

(e) A Medicaid card; or

(f) Such other acceptable evidence of verification of residence in the county as determined by the Secretary of State.

(7) A Mississippi Voter Identification Card shall remain valid for as long as the cardholder remains qualified to vote. It shall be the duty of a person who moves his or her residence within this state to surrender his or her voter identification card to the registrar of the county of his or her new residence and that person may thereafter apply for and receive a new card if such person is eligible under this section. It shall be the duty of a person who moves his or her residence outside this state or who ceases to be qualified to vote to surrender his or her card to the registrar who issued it.

(8) The Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, shall adopt rules and regulations for the administration of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-373 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-373
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-373
Status: in_force

Within one (1) day after election day, the poll managers shall report to the election commissioners, under oath, as to the loss of official ballots, the number lost, and all facts connected therewith, which report the commissioners may deliver to the grand jury, if deemed advisable.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-600 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-600
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-600
Status: in_force

All forms to be prescribed by the Secretary of State for the reporting of election returns hereunder shall be either hard copy forms on which precincts are listed horizontally and candidates are listed vertically and/or a web-based system in which these forms, or forms similar to them, are made available to counties electronically.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-253 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-253
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-253
Status: in_force

The election commissioners shall furnish to the poll managers at each voting place a sufficient quantity of stationery for use in holding the election, and also blank forms to be used in making returns of the election, including the precinct opening and closing log, the election ballot account form and the electronic vote tally worksheet provided by the Secretary of State's office.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-683 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-683
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-683
Status: in_force

In any elections, as soon as the deadline for the qualification of candidates has passed, or forty-five (45) days prior to the election, whichever is later, absentee ballots shall be prepared and printed for the elections, and both of said ballots shall have printed thereon the names of all candidates who originally qualify as candidates. However, such ballots shall be printed on paper of different tints or colors and shall be styled so as to show which ballot is to be used for the first election and which ballot is to be used for the second election.

When the proper application is made as is otherwise provided herein, the registrar shall send to the absent voter the proper absent voter ballots for the elections as is otherwise provided herein, and with such ballots there shall be sent also separate official envelopes for the return thereof. No additional ballot shall be thereafter sent to the absent voter for the second election but the absent voter shall ascertain which of the candidates who originally qualified are candidates in the second election and he or she may vote for his choice between them on the second election ballot previously sent him. If an absentee voter shall vote for any candidate on the second election ballot who is not a candidate in the second election, his vote for that office shall be disregarded.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-17 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-17
Status: in_force

Any person who has reasonable cause to suspect that a false registration as provided in Section 97-13-25 has occurred may notify any authorized law enforcement officer with proper jurisdiction. Upon such notification, law enforcement officer shall be required to conduct an investigation into the matter and file a report with the registrar and the appropriate district attorney. The registrar shall, within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of the investigating officer's report, accept or reject the registration. Any person who so notifies an authorized law enforcement officer shall be presumed to be acting in good faith and shall be immune from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be incurred or imposed.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-533.2 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-533.2
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-533.2
Status: in_force

(1)(a) There is established within the department the Mississippi Voting Modernization Grant Program which shall be administered by the department for the purpose of reimbursing counties or disbursing funds to counties for the purchase of modern voting systems.

(b) The grant program shall receive funds appropriated to the Mississippi Secretary of State therefor from the Capital Expense Fund or other available source of money.

(2) By August 31, 2022, the department shall develop and promulgate rules to provide for:

(a) The procedures of the grant program not specifically enumerated in this subarticle; and

(b) Other eligible expenses related to the costs of conducting elections where a county has previously purchased voting systems that qualifies under the requirements of this subarticle. Other eligible expenses include, but are not limited to: (i) encumbered debt of previously purchased voting machines; (ii) additional voting machines; (iii) machine maintenance; (iv) software upgrades; (v) ballot-marking devices; (vi) central scanners, (vii) ballot-on-demand printing systems, (viii) electronic poll books; (ix) paper ballots or ballot-printing supplies; and (x) costs associated with voter roll maintenance, such as printing confirmation cards and postage.

(3) To be eligible for purchase under this grant program, any voting machine, voting device, precinct ballot scanner, ballot marking device or vote tabulating device shall not have the capability of wireless remote connections.

(4) The department shall review the application for funding submitted by each county and grant or deny the application within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the application.

(5) Before awarding a grant to a county for the future purchase of a voting system, the department shall require the county to provide a verified contract and purchase order.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-595 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-595
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-595
Status: in_force

The box containing the ballots and other records required by this chapter shall, immediately after the ballots have been counted, be delivered by one (1) of the poll managers to the clerk of the circuit court of the county and the clerk shall, in the presence of the poll manager making delivery of the box, place upon the lock of such box a tamper-evident seal. The seals shall be numbered consecutively to the number of ballot boxes used in the election in the county, and the clerk shall keep in a place separate from such boxes a record of the number of the seal of each separate box in the county. The board of supervisors of the county shall pay the cost of providing the seals. Upon demand of the chair of the county executive committee in the case of primary elections, or the county election commissioner in the case of other elections, the boxes and their contents shall be delivered to the county executive committee, or the county election commission, as appropriate, and after such committee or commission, as appropriate, has finished the work of tabulating returns and counting ballots as required by law, the committee or commission, as appropriate, shall return all papers and ballots to the box of the precinct where the election was held, and it shall make redelivery of the boxes and their contents to the circuit clerk who shall reseal the boxes. Upon every occasion the boxes shall be reopened and each resealing shall be done as provided in this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-809 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-809
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-809
Status: in_force

(a) Every person who makes independent expenditures in an aggregate amount or value in excess of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) during a calendar year shall file a statement containing the information required under Section 23-15-807 . Such statement shall be filed with the appropriate offices as provided for in Section 23-15-805 , and such person shall be considered a political committee for the purpose of determining place of filing.

(b) Statements required to be filed by this section shall include:

(i) Information indicating whether the independent expenditure is in support of, or in opposition to, the candidate involved;

(ii) Under penalty of perjury, a certification of whether or not such independent expenditure is made in cooperation, consultation or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, any candidate or any authorized committee or agent of such candidate; and

(iii) The identification of each person who made a contribution in excess of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) to the person filing such statement which was made for the purpose of furthering an independent expenditure.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-351 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-351
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-351
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty of the chair of the election commission of each county to have printed all necessary ballots for use in elections, except ballots in municipal elections which shall be printed as herein provided by the authorities of the respective municipalities; and the election commissioner shall cause the official ballot to be printed by a printer sworn to keep the ballots secret under the penalties prescribed by law. The printer shall deliver to the election commissioners for holding elections, a certificate of the number of ballots printed for each precinct, and shall not print any additional ballots, except on instruction of proper election commissioners; and failure to observe either of these requirements shall be a misdemeanor.

In the case of a statewide special election on the new design for the official Mississippi State Flag provided for in Section 2 of Chapter 427, Laws of 2020, the provisions of this article regarding the printing and distribution of the official ballots shall be governed by the provisions of Section 2(3) of Chapter 427, Laws of 2020.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-815 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-815
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-815
Status: in_force

(a) The Secretary of State shall prescribe and make available forms and promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement this article.

(b) The Secretary of State, circuit clerks and municipal clerks shall, within forty-eight (48) hours after the time of the receipt by the appropriate office of reports and statements filed with it, make them available for public inspection, and copying at the expense of the person requesting such copying, and keep such designations, reports and statements for a period of three (3) years from the date of receipt.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-305 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-305
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-305
Status: in_force

The candidate who received the majority number of votes cast for the office which he seeks shall thereby become the nominee of his party for such office and no person shall be declared to be the nominee of his party unless and until he has received a majority of the votes cast for such office, except as hereinafter provided. If no candidate received such majority of the votes cast in the first primary, then the two (2) candidates who receive the highest number of votes cast for such office shall have their names submitted as such candidates to the second primary and the candidate who leads in such second primary shall be nominated for the office.

If the candidate who received the second highest number of votes cast for such office for any reason declines to enter the second primary, then in that event the candidate who received the third highest shall have his name submitted to the second primary, together with the candidate who received the highest number of votes cast for such office.

If the candidate who received the third highest number of votes cast for such office for any reason declines to enter the second primary, then in that event the candidate who received the fourth highest shall have his name submitted to the second primary, together with the candidate who received the highest number of votes cast for such office.

If no candidate will enter the second primary with the candidate who received the highest number of votes cast, then the candidate who received the highest number of votes cast in the first primary shall be declared the nominee of his party for such office.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-211 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-211
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-211
Status: in_force

(1) There shall be a State Board of Election Commissioners to consist of the following members:

(a) The Governor, who shall serve as chair;

(b) The Secretary of State, who shall serve as secretary, maintain minutes of all meetings and accept service of process on behalf of the board; and

(c) The Attorney General.

Any two (2) of the members of the State Board of Election Commissioners may perform the duties required of the board.

(2) The duties of the board shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) Ruling on a candidate's qualifications to run for statewide, Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, congressional district, circuit and chancery court district, and other state district offices;

(b) Approving the state ballot for the offices stated in paragraph (a) of this subsection (2); and

(c) Adopting any administrative rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out the statutory duties of the board.

(3) The board of supervisors of each county shall pay members of the county election commission for attending training events a per diem in the amount provided in Section 23-15-153 ; however, except as otherwise provided in this section, the per diem shall not be paid to an election commissioner for more than twelve (12) days of training per year and shall only be paid to election commissioners who actually attend and complete a training event and obtain a training certificate.

(4) Included in this twelve (12) days shall be an elections seminar, conducted and sponsored by the Secretary of State. Election commissioners and chairpersons of each political party executive committee, or their designee, shall be required to attend. An election commissioner shall be certified by the Secretary of State only after attending the annual elections seminar and satisfactorily completing the skills assessment provided for in Section 23-15-213 . Such skills assessment shall only be required once every four (4) years.

(5) Each participant shall receive a certificate from the Secretary of State indicating that the named participant has received the elections training seminar instruction and satisfactorily completed the skills assessment provided for in Section 23-15-213 . Election commissioners shall annually file the certificate with the chancery clerk. If any election commissioner shall fail to file the certificate by April 30 of each year, his or her office shall be vacated, absent exigent circumstances as determined by the board of supervisors and consistent with the facts. The vacancy shall be declared by the board of supervisors and the vacancy shall be filled in the manner described by law. Before declaring the office vacant, the board of supervisors shall give the election commissioner notice and the opportunity for a hearing.

(6) The Secretary of State, upon approval of the board of supervisors, may authorize not more than eight (8) additional training days per year for election commissioners in one or more counties. The board of supervisors of each county shall pay members of the county election commission for attending training on these days a per diem in the amount provided in Section 23-15-153 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-267 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-267
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-267
Status: in_force

(1) The ballot boxes provided by the election commissioners in each county shall be used in primary elections, and the county executive committees shall distribute them to the voting precincts of the county before the time for opening the polls, in the same manner, as near as may be, as that provided for in general elections.

(2) The boxes shall be securely sealed and locked beginning at the start of voting on election day until the end of voting on election day; and the box shall be kept by one (1) of the poll managers, and the poll manager having the box shall carefully keep it, and neither open it himself or herself nor permit it to be done, nor permit any person to have any access to it throughout voting during election day. The box shall not be removed from the polling place after the polls are open until the polls close and the count is completed.

(3) After each election, the ballot boxes shall be delivered to the clerk of the circuit court of the county for preservation; and he or she shall keep them for future use, and, when called for, deliver them to the election commissioners.

(4)(a) If it is eligible under Section 23-15-266 , the county executive committee may enter into a written agreement with the circuit clerk or the county election commission authorizing the circuit clerk or the county election commission to perform any of the duties required of the county executive committee pursuant to this section. Any agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection shall be signed by the chair of the county executive committee and the circuit clerk or the chair of the county election commission, as appropriate. The county executive committee shall notify the State Executive Committee and the Secretary of State of the existence of such agreement.

(b) If it is eligible under Section 23-15-266 , the municipal executive committee may enter into a written agreement with the municipal clerk or the municipal election commission authorizing the municipal clerk or the municipal election commission to perform any of the duties required of the municipal executive committee pursuant to this section. Any agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection shall be signed by the chair of the municipal executive committee and the municipal clerk or the chair of the municipal election commission, as appropriate. The municipal executive committee shall notify the State Executive Committee and the Secretary of State of the existence of such agreement.

(5) The person, or persons, whose duty it is to comply with the provisions of this section and who shall fail, or neglect, from any cause, to deliver the boxes or any of them as herein provided shall, upon conviction, be fined not less than Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) and be imprisoned in the county jail of the residence of the person, or persons, who violates any of the provisions of this section, for a period of not less than thirty (30) days or more than six (6) months, and fined not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-17-35 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 17 / Section 17-35
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-17-35
Status: in_force

Except in the case of alternative voting on a measure initiated by petition, each measure submitted to the people for approval or rejection shall be so printed on the ballot, under the proper heading, that a voter can, by making one (1) choice, express his approval or rejection of such measure. Substantially the following form shall be a compliance with this section:

INITIATIVE MEASURE NO. ___

(Here insert the ballot title of the measure.)

YES․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․( )

NO․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․( )
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-5 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-5
Status: in_force

(1) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Elections Support Fund. Monies derived from annual report fees imposed upon limited liability companies under Section 79-29-1203 shall be deposited into the Elections Support Fund. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be disbursed as provided in subsection (2) of this section. The expenditure of monies in the fund shall be under the direction of the Secretary of State as provided by subsection (2) of this section, and such funds shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by the Department of Finance and Administration.

(2)(a) Monies in the fund shall be distributed annually to the counties, upon appropriation of the Legislature, based on the proportion that the population of a county bears to the total population in all counties of the state population according to the most recent information from the United States Census Bureau, and held in a separate fund solely for the purpose of acquiring, upgrading, maintaining or repairing voting equipment, systems and supplies, hiring temporary technical support, conducting elections using such voting equipment or systems, employing such personnel to conduct an election, and training election officials. The counties shall ensure all computers with access to the Statewide Elections Management System are equipped with appropriate security measures to protect private information of the registered voter and the integrity of Mississippi elections, and these funds may be used to purchase such security measures.

(b) The Secretary of State shall create standard training guidelines to assist counties in training election officials with the funds authorized under paragraph (a) of this subsection. Any criteria established by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this section shall be used in addition to any other training or coursework prescribed by the Secretary of State to train circuit clerks, poll managers and any other election officials participating in county elections.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no monies from the Elections Support Fund shall be used by the Secretary of State or any person associated with the Office of the Secretary of State to provide or otherwise support expert testimony in any manner for any hearing, trial or election contest.

(3) From and after July 1, 2017, none of the monies deposited in the Elections Support Fund may be used to reimburse or otherwise defray any costs that the Office of the Secretary of State may incur in administering the fund.

(4) From and after July 1, 2016, no state agency shall charge another state agency a fee, assessment, rent or other charge for services or resources received by authority of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-17-37 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 17 / Section 17-37
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-17-37
Status: in_force

If an initiative measure proposed to the Legislature has been rejected by the Legislature and an alternative measure is passed by the Legislature in lieu thereof, the serial numbers and ballot titles of both such measures shall be printed on the official ballots so that a voter can express separately two (2) preferences: First, by voting for the approval of either measure or against both measures, and, secondly, by voting for one measure or the other measure. If the majority of those voting on the first issue is against both measures, then both measures fail, but in that case the votes on the second issue nevertheless shall be carefully counted and made public. If a majority voting on the first issue is for the approval of either measure, then the measure receiving a majority of the votes on the second issue and also receiving not less than forty percent (40%) of the total votes cast at the election at which the measure was submitted for approval shall be law. Any person who votes against both measures on the first issue may vote but shall not be required to vote for any of the measures on the second issue in order for the ballot to be valid. Substantially the following form shall be a compliance with this section:

INITIATED BY PETITION AND ALTERNATIVE BY LEGISLATURE

Initiative Measure No. __________, entitled (here insert the ballot title of the initiative measure).

Alternative Measure No.__________ A, entitled (here insert the ballot title of the alternative measure).

VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF EITHER, OR AGAINST BOTH:

FOR APPROVAL OF EITHER Initiative No. ___

OR Alternative No. ___ A․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․․( )

AGAINST BOTH initiative No. ___

AND Alternative No. ___ A․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․․( )

AND VOTE FOR ONE:

FOR Initiative Measure No. ___․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․․( )

FOR Alternative Measure No. ___ A․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

․․․․․․( )
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-17-42 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 17 / Section 17-42
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-17-42
Status: in_force

When a proposed change, alteration or amendment proposed to the Constitution by initiative of the people or legislative alternative receives the required number of votes as provided in Section 273(8), Mississippi Constitution of 1890 , the Secretary of State shall insert the proposed change, alteration or amendment into the Constitution by proclamation of his or her office certifying that the proposed change, alteration or amendment to the Constitution received the required number of votes as provided in Section 273(8), Mississippi Constitution of 1890 . The Secretary of State shall also designate the article number and section number or numbers for the proposed change, alteration or amendment in the Constitution if the article number and section number or numbers are not provided in the initiative of the people or legislative alternative.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-871 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-871
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-871
Status: in_force

(1) No corporation or any officer or employee thereof, or any member of a firm, or trustee or any member of any association, or any other employer, may direct or coerce, directly or indirectly, any employee to vote or not to vote for any particular person or group of persons in any election, or to discharge or to threaten to discharge any such employee, or to increase or decrease the salary or wages of an employee, or otherwise promote or demote the employee, because of his or her vote or failure to vote for any particular candidate or group of candidates.

(2) No employer, or employee having the authority to employ or discharge other employees, may make any statement public or private, or give out or circulate any report or statement, calculated to intimidate or coerce or otherwise influence any vote of an employee, and when any such statement has been circulated, it shall be the duty of the employer to publicly repudiate it or the employer shall be deemed by way of ratification to have made it himself or herself.

(3) No employee may be requested, directed or permitted to canvass for or against any candidate or render any other services for or against any candidate or group of candidates, during any of the hours within which the salary of the employee as an employee is being paid or agreed to be paid. No employee may be allowed any vacation or leave of absence at the expense of the employer to render any service or services for or against any candidate or group of candidates, or to take any active part in any election campaign whatsoever, except the necessary time to cast his or her vote.

(4) The prohibitions of this section shall apply to all state, state district, county and county district officers, and to any board or commission and the members thereof by whatever name designated and whether elective or appointive, and to each one of those employed by them or any of them.

(5) No state, state district, county or county district officer, or any employee who directly or indirectly has the control, or who asserts that he or she has such power, over the expenditure of any public funds in this state shall state, suggest or intimate, publicly or privately, or in any manner or form, that any such expenditure shall depend upon or be influenced by the vote of any person, group of persons, or community or group of communities, whether for or against any candidate or group of candidates at any election.

(6) This section and every part of it shall apply also to all federal officers, agents, employees, boards and commissions as to any interference contrary to the provisions of this chapter, in the elections of this state.

(7) Any violation of this section shall be a violation of Section 97-13-37 and shall be referred to a district attorney for prosecution.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-789 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-789
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-789
Status: in_force

The electors chosen shall meet at the seat of government of the state on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December next following their election, and shall there give their votes for President and Vice-President of the United States, and shall make return thereof agreeably to the laws of the United States; and should any elector so chosen fail to attend and give his vote, the other electors attending shall appoint some person or persons to fill the vacancy or vacancies, who shall attend and vote as electors; and such appointment shall be forthwith reported to the Secretary of State.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-17-11 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 17 / Section 17-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-17-11
Status: in_force

Upon the filing of the ballot title and summary for an initiative measure in his office, the Secretary of State shall forthwith notify by certified mail return receipt requested, the person proposing the measure and any other individuals who have made written request for such notification of the exact language of the ballot title. The Secretary of State shall publish the title and summary for an initiative measure within ten (10) days after filing such title and summary in a newspaper or newspapers of general circulation throughout the State of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-93 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-93
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-93
Status: in_force

If any election commissioner or registrar shall refuse or neglect to perform any of the duties imposed upon him or her by this chapter regarding the registration of electors, or shall knowingly permit any person to sign a false affidavit or otherwise knowingly permit any person to violate any provision of this chapter regarding the registration of electors, or shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter regarding the registration of electors, or if any officer taking the affidavits as provided in this chapter regarding registration of electors shall make any false statement in his or her certificate thereto attached, he or she shall be deemed guilty of a crime and shall be punished by a fine not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or by imprisonment in the penitentiary not exceeding one (1) year, and shall be removed from office.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-609 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-609
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-609
Status: in_force

When a city or part of a county is entitled to separate representation in the Legislature, the election commissioners shall prepare for the election, and shall receive and canvass the returns, declare the result, and transmit it to the Secretary of State, and act in all respects as in other elections.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-43 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-43
Status: in_force

In the event an applicant is not registered, there shall be an automatic review by the county election commissioners under the procedures provided in Sections 23-15-61 through 23-15-79 . In addition to the meetings of the election commissioners provided in those sections, the commissioners are required to hold such additional meetings to determine all pending cases of registration on review before the election at which the applicant desires to vote.

It is not the purpose of this section to indicate the decision that should be reached by the election commissioners in certain cases but to define which applicants should receive further examination by providing for an automatic review.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-307 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-307
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-307
Status: in_force

The name of any candidate shall not be placed upon the official ballot in general elections as a party nominee who is not nominated as herein provided, and the election of any party nominee who shall be nominated otherwise than as provided in this chapter shall be void and he or she shall not be entitled to hold the office to which he or she may have been elected.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-832 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-832
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-832
Status: in_force

When a vacancy shall occur in an elective office for which a special election is required to be called to fill, the entity with whom candidates for the office are required to qualify shall notify the Secretary of State of the vacancy within five (5) days after it receives knowledge of the vacancy.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-17-41 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 17 / Section 17-41
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-17-41
Status: in_force

An initiative approved by the electors shall take effect thirty (30) days from the date of the official declaration of the vote by the Secretary of State, unless the measure provides otherwise.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-257 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-257
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-257
Status: in_force

The marshal or chief of police shall perform, in respect to the municipal elections, all the duties prescribed by law to be performed by the board of supervisors in reference to furnishing voting compartments for state and county elections.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-551 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-551
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-551
Status: in_force

On receiving his or her ballot, the voter shall go without undue delay into one (1) of the voting compartments and shall there prepare his or her ballot by marking with ink or indelible pencil on the appropriate margin or place a cross (X) opposite the name of the candidate of his or her choice for each office or by writing in the name of a candidate in the blank space provided, and marking a cross (X) opposite thereto, and likewise a cross (X) opposite the answer he or she desires to give in case of an election on a constitutional amendment, local option election, referenda or any other question or matter. As an alternative method, a voter may, at his or her option, prepare a ballot by marking with ink or indelible pencil in the appropriate margin or place a check, in the form of and similar to a “V”, opposite the name of the candidate of his or her choice for each office or by writing in the name of a candidate in the blank space provided and marking a check in the form of and similar to a “V”, opposite thereto, and likewise a check, in the form of and similar to a “V”, opposite the answer he or she desires to give in case of an election on a constitutional amendment, local option election, referenda or other question or matter, either of which methods of marking, whether by a cross (X) or by a check in the form of and similar to a “V”, is authorized. Before leaving the voting compartment, the voter shall fold his or her ballot without displaying its markings, but so that the words “OFFICIAL BALLOT,” followed by the designation of the voting precinct and the date of the election, shall be visible to the poll managers, then deposit his or her ballot directly into the ballot box. This shall be done without undue delay, and as soon as the voter has voted he or she shall promptly exit the polling place. A voter shall not be allowed to occupy a voting compartment already occupied by another voter, nor any compartment longer than ten (10) minutes, if other voters are not waiting, nor longer than five (5) minutes if other voters are waiting. A person shall not be allowed in the room in which the ballot boxes, compartments, tables and shelves are, except the officers of the election, and those appointed by them to assist therein, and those authorized by Section 23-15-577 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-787 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-787
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-787
Status: in_force

The Secretary of State shall, immediately after ascertaining the result, transmit by mail a notice, in writing, to the persons elected.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-675 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-675
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-675
Status: in_force

Any absent voter, as defined in Section 23-15-673 , who is otherwise qualified, may, upon compliance with the provisions of this subarticle, vote in any elections which are held in his voting precinct when he is absent for the reasons set forth in this subarticle.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-677 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-677
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-677
Status: in_force

(1) All absent voters as defined in Section 23-15-673(1) and (2) may use a duly executed federal postcard application (as provided for in the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42 USCS 1973ff et seq. ) to request a ballot or to register to vote, or to do both simultaneously.

(2) An absent voter who registers to vote utilizing a federal postcard application or a Federal Write-In-Absentee Ballot may vote in an election if the voter was registered to vote ten (10) or more days prior to the date of the election.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-17-39 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 17 / Section 17-39
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-17-39
Status: in_force

No more than five (5) initiative proposals shall be submitted to the voters on a single ballot, and the first five (5) initiative proposals submitted to the Secretary of State with sufficient petitions shall be the proposals which are submitted to the voters.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-353 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-353
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-353
Status: in_force

The officer charged with printing and distributing the official ballot shall ascertain from the registrar, at least ten (10) days before the day of election, the number of registered voters in each voting precinct; and he or she shall have printed and distributed a sufficient number of ballots for use in each precinct.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-591 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-591
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-591
Status: in_force

When the votes have been completely and correctly counted and tallied by the poll managers they shall publicly proclaim the result of the election at their box and shall certify in duplicate a statement of the result, the certificate to be signed by the poll managers, one (1) of the certificates to be enclosed in the ballot box, and the other to be delivered to and to be kept by one (1) of the poll managers and to be inspected at any time by any voter who so requests. When the count of the votes and the tally of the votes have been completed, the poll managers shall lock and seal the ballot box, having first placed therein all ballots voted, all spoiled ballots and all unused ballots. There shall also be enclosed one (1) of the duplicate receipts given by the poll manager who received the blank ballots received for that box; and the total ballots voted, and the spoiled ballots, and the unused ballots must correspond in total with the duplicate receipt or else the failure thereof must be perfectly accounted for by a written statement, under oath of the poll managers, which statement must be enclosed in the ballot box. There shall also be enclosed in the box the tally list, the receipt book containing the signed names of the voters who voted; and the number of ballots voted must correspond with the number of names signed in the receipt book.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-291 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-291
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-291
Status: in_force

All nominations for state, district, county and county district officers made by the different parties of this state shall be made by primary elections. All primary elections shall be governed and regulated by the election laws of the state in force at the time the primary election is held.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-171 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-171
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-171
Status: in_force

(1) Municipal primary elections shall be held on the first Tuesday in April preceding the general municipal election and, in the event a second primary shall be necessary, such second primary shall be held on the fourth Tuesday in April preceding such general municipal election. The candidate receiving a majority of the votes cast in the election shall be the party nominee. If no candidate shall receive a majority vote at the election, the two (2) candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall have their names placed on the ballot for the second primary election. The candidate receiving the most votes cast in the second primary election shall be the party nominee. However, if no candidate shall receive a majority vote at the first primary, and there is a tie in the election of those receiving the next highest vote, those candidates receiving the next highest vote and the candidate receiving the highest vote shall have their names placed on the ballot for the second primary election, and whoever receives the most votes cast in the second primary election shall be the party nominee. At the primary election the municipal executive committee shall perform the same duties as are specified by law and performed by members of the county executive committee with regard to state and county primary elections. Each municipal executive committee shall have as many members as there are elective officers of the municipality, and the members of the municipal executive committee of each political party shall be elected in the primary elections held for the nomination of candidates for municipal offices. The provisions of this section shall govern all municipal primary elections as far as applicable, but the officers to prepare the ballots and the poll managers and other officials of the primary election shall be appointed by the municipal executive committee of the party holding the primary, and the returns of such election shall be made to such municipal executive committee. Vacancies in the executive committee shall be filled by it.

(2) Provided, however, that in municipalities operating under a special or private charter which fixes a time for holding elections, other than the time fixed by Chapter 491, Laws of 1950, the first primary election shall be held on the first Tuesday, two (2) months before the time for holding the general election, as fixed by the charter, and the second primary election, where necessary, shall be held three (3) weeks after the first primary election, unless the charter of any such municipality provides otherwise, in which event the provisions of the special or private charter shall prevail as to the time of holding such primary elections.

(3) All primary elections in municipalities shall be held and conducted in the same manner as is provided by law for state and county primary elections.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-285 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-285
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-285
Status: in_force

The board of supervisors shall cause an entry to be made on the minutes of the board at some meeting, as early as convenient, defining the boundaries of the several supervisors districts, sub-precincts and voting precincts in the county, and designating the voting place in each voting precinct; and as soon as practicable after any change is made in any supervisors district, sub-precincts, voting precinct or any voting place, the board of supervisors shall cause the change to be entered on the minutes of the board in such manner as to be easily understood. Precinct boundaries may be changed only during the times provided in Section 23-15-283 .

No voting precinct shall have more than five hundred (500) qualified electors residing in its boundaries. Subject to the provisions of this section, each board of supervisors of the various counties of this state shall as soon as practical after January 1, 1987, alter or change the boundaries of the various voting precincts to comply herewith and shall from time to time make such changes in the boundaries of voting precincts so that there shall never be more than five hundred (500) qualified electors within the boundaries of the various voting precincts of this state; provided further, this limitation shall not apply to voting precincts that are so divided, alphabetically or otherwise, so as to have less than five hundred (500) qualified electors in any one (1) box within a voting precinct. However, the limitation of five hundred (500) qualified electors to the voting precinct shall not apply to voting precincts in which voting machines are used at all elections held in that voting precinct. No change in any supervisors district, sub-precinct or voting precinct shall take effect less than thirty (30) days before the qualifying deadline for the office of county supervisor.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-67 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-67
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-67
Status: in_force

The election commissioners of each county shall, at the meetings provided for in Sections 23-15-123 , 23-15-155 and 23-15-157 , hear and determine any appeals which may have been perfected and which are pending on the respective dates provided for in Sections 23-15-123 , 23-15-155 and 23-15-157 , from the decisions of the registrar of their county allowing or refusing the applications of persons to be registered. The above dates for hearing the appeals are supplemental to the provisions of Section 23-15-65 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-169.4 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-169.4
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-169.4
Status: in_force

The Secretary of State shall be responsible for providing to all absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters who wish to vote or register to vote in this state information required by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 regarding voter registration procedures and absentee ballot procedures to be used by absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters with respect to elections, including procedures relating to the use of the federal write-in absentee ballot.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-95 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-95
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-95
Status: in_force

In addition to the penalties set forth in Section 23-15-93 , any applicant aggrieved by any registrar or election commissioner because of their refusal or neglect to perform any of the duties prescribed by this chapter regarding the registration of electors may petition the chancery court of the county of the registrar or election commissioner for an injunction or mandate to enforce the performance of such duties and to secure to that applicant the rights to which he or she may be entitled under the provisions of the sections.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-243 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-243
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-243
Status: in_force

If the election commissioners fail to designate a poll manager as the bailiff, or if their designee fails to serve, the poll managers may select an election bailiff from among their number.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-37 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-37
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-37
Status: in_force

(1) The registrar shall register the electors of his or her county at any time during regular office hours.

(2) The county registrar may keep his or her office open to register voters from 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., including the noon hour, for the five (5) business days immediately preceding the thirtieth day before any regularly scheduled primary or general election. The county registrar shall also keep his or her office open from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon on the Saturday immediately preceding the thirtieth day before any regularly scheduled primary or general election, unless that Saturday falls on a legal holiday, in which case registration applications submitted on the Monday immediately following the legal holiday shall be accepted and entered in the Statewide Elections Management System for the purpose of enabling such voters to vote in the next primary or general election.

(3) The registrar, or any deputy registrar duly appointed by law, may visit and spend such time as he or she may deem necessary at any location in his or her county, selected by the registrar not less than thirty (30) days before an election, for the purpose of registering voters.

(4) A person who is physically disabled and unable to visit the office of the registrar to register to vote due to such disability may contact the registrar and request that the registrar or the registrar's deputy visit him or her for the purpose of registering such person to vote. The registrar or the registrar's deputy shall visit that person as soon as possible after such request and provide the person with an application for registration, if necessary. The completed application for registration shall be executed in the presence of the registrar or the registrar's deputy.

(5)(a) In the fall and spring of each year the registrar of each county shall furnish all public schools with mail-in voter registration applications. The applications shall be provided in a reasonable time to enable those students who will be eighteen (18) years of age before a general election to be able to vote in the primary and general elections.

(b) Each public school district shall permit access to all public schools of this state for the county registrar or the county registrar's deputy to register persons who are eligible to vote and to provide voter education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-877 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-877
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-877
Status: in_force

If during any election campaign in Mississippi any newspaper either domiciled in the state, or outside of the state circulating inside the State of Mississippi, shall print any editorial or news story reflecting upon the honesty or integrity or moral character of any candidate in such campaign or on the honesty and integrity or moral character of any candidate who was elected or defeated in such campaign, such newspaper shall, on the written or telegraphic request of such candidate or his agents, print in such newspaper not later than the second issue of such newspaper following the receipt of such request, a statement by the candidate or his duly accredited representative giving the candidate's reply. Such statement shall be printed in the exact language which the candidate or his representative presents and shall be printed as near as is practical on the same page, in the same position, and in the same size type and headlines as the original editorial or news story reflecting on the candidate had been printed.

This section shall be construed to include those news stories wherein the newspaper quotes from a candidate or individual statements attacking the honesty or integrity or moral character of a candidate or ex-candidate.

If such newspaper fails or refuses to publish such answer when requested, the owner of such newspaper shall be liable to a suit for damages by the candidate claiming to be injured by such publication. In event of a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, the measure of damages shall be the injury suffered or a penalty of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), whichever is the larger amount. In all cases, the truth of the charge may be offered as defense to the suit. But nothing herein contained shall be construed to abolish any existing legal rights of action in such cases.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-21 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-21
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful for any person who is not a citizen of the United States or the State of Mississippi to register or to vote in any primary, special or general election in the state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-65 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-65
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-65
Status: in_force

The board of election commissioners shall meet at the courthouse of its county on the second Monday in September preceding any general election, and shall remain in session from day to day, so long as business may require. Three (3) election commissioners shall constitute a quorum to do business; but the concurrence of at least three (3) election commissioners shall be necessary in all cases for the rendition of a decision. The election commissioners shall hear and determine all appeals from the decisions of the registrar of their county, allowing or refusing the applications of electors to be registered; and they shall correct illegal or improper registrations, and shall secure the elective franchise, as affected by registration, to those who may be illegally or improperly denied the same.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-859 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-859
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-859
Status: in_force

Whenever under any statute a special election is required or authorized to be held in any municipality, and the statute authorizing or requiring the election does not specify the time within which the election shall be called, or the notice which shall be given, the governing authorities of the municipality shall, by resolution, fix a date upon which the election shall be held. The date shall not be less than twenty-one (21) nor more than thirty (30) days after the date upon which such resolution is adopted, and not less than three (3) weeks' notice of the election shall be given by the clerk by a notice published in a newspaper published in the municipality once each week for three (3) weeks next preceding the date of the election, and by posting a copy of the notice at three (3) public places in the municipality. Nothing herein, however, shall be applicable to elections on the question of the issuance of the bonds of a municipality or to general or primary elections for the election of municipal officers.

The provisions of this section shall be applicable to all municipalities of this state, whether operating under a code charter, special charter or the commission form of government, except in cases of conflicts between the provisions of the section and the provisions of the special charter of a municipality, or the law governing the commission form of government, in which cases of conflict the provisions of the special charter or the statutes relative to the commission form of government shall apply.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-581 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-581
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-581
Status: in_force

When the last qualified voter, who was standing in line at the polling place at 7:00 p.m., has cast his or her ballot, or 7:00 p.m., whichever is later, the poll managers shall proclaim that the polls are closed and publicly break the seal and open the ballot box to immediately proceed to count the ballots, at the same time reading aloud the names of the persons voted for, which shall be taken down. During the holding of the election and the counting of the ballots, the whole proceedings shall be in fair and full view of the voting public, candidates or their duly authorized representatives and other authorized poll watchers, without unnecessary interference, delay or encroachment upon the good order of the duties and proceedings of the poll managers and other officers of the election. There shall be no unnecessary delay and no adjournment except as provided by law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-637 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-637
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-637
Status: in_force

(1)(a) Absentee ballots and applications received by mail, except for fax or electronically transmitted ballots as otherwise provided by Section 23-15-699 for UOCAVA ballots, or common carrier, such as United Parcel Service or FedEx Corporation, must be postmarked on or before the date of the election and received by the registrar no more than five (5) business days after the election; any received after such time shall be handled as provided in Section 23-15-647 and shall not be counted.

(b) All ballots cast by the absent elector appearing in person in the office of the registrar shall be cast with an absentee paper ballot and deposited into a sealed ballot box by the voter, not later than 12:00 noon on the Saturday immediately preceding elections held on Tuesday, the Thursday immediately preceding elections held on Saturday, or the second day immediately preceding the date of elections held on other days. At the close of business each day at the office of the registrar, the ballot box used shall be sealed and not unsealed until the beginning of the next business day, and the seal number shall be recorded with the number of ballots cast which shall be stored in a secure location in the registrar's office.

(2) The registrar shall deposit all absentee ballots which have been timely cast and received by mail in a secured and sealed box in a designated location in the registrar's office upon receipt. The registrar shall not send any absentee ballots to the precinct polling locations.

(3) The Secretary of State shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to ensure that when a qualified elector who is qualified to vote absentee votes by absentee ballot, either by mail or in person with a regular paper ballot, that person's absentee vote is final and he or she may not vote at the polling place on election day. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, the Secretary of State shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to ensure that absentee ballots shall remain in the registrar's office for counting and not be taken to the precincts on election day.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-791 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-791
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-791
Status: in_force

Each elector shall be allowed the sum of Four Dollars ($4.00) for every twenty (20) miles of travel, to be estimated by the usual land route, in going from his home to and returning from the seat of government to give his vote, and Four Dollars ($4.00) for every day he shall attend there as an elector, to be paid by the State Treasurer, on the warrant of the auditor.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-215 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-215
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-215
Status: in_force

If there shall not be election commissioners in any county, or if they fail to act, the duties prescribed for them shall be performed by the board of supervisors. In such case, the president of the board is charged with the duty of having the official ballot printed and distributed; and the poll managers shall make returns to the board, which shall canvass the returns, give certificates of election, and make report to the Secretary of State, in like manner as the election commissioners are required to do.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-41 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-41
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-41
Status: in_force

(1) When an applicant to register to vote has completed the application form as prescribed by administrative rule, the county registrar shall enter the applicant's information into the Statewide Elections Management System where the applicant's status will be marked as “ACTIVE,” “PENDING” or “REJECTED,” and the applicant shall be entitled to register upon his or her request for registration made in person to the registrar, or deputy registrar if a deputy registrar has been appointed. No person other than the registrar, or a deputy registrar, shall register any applicant.

(2) If an applicant is not qualified to register to vote, then the registrar shall enter the applicant's information into the Statewide Elections Management System and mark the applicant's status as “PENDING” or “REJECTED,” with the specific reason or reasons for that status noted. The registrar shall notify the election commission of those applicants rejected.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-283 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-283
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-283
Status: in_force

(1) The board of supervisors shall have power to alter the boundaries of the supervisors districts, voting precincts, sub-precincts and the voting place therein. If the board of supervisors orders a change in the boundaries, they shall notify the election commissioners, who shall at once cause the voter rolls as electronically maintained by the Statewide Elections Management System of voting precincts affected by the order to be changed to conform to the change so as to contain only the names of the qualified electors in the voting precincts as made by the change of boundaries. Upon the order of change in the boundaries of any voting precinct or the voting place therein, the board of supervisors shall notify the Office of the Secretary of State and provide the Office of the Secretary of State a legal description and a map of any boundary change. No change shall be implemented or enforced until the requirements of this section have been met.

(2) Only officials certified by the Secretary of State shall be authorized to implement boundary line changes in the Statewide Elections Management System. The training and certification required under this subsection (2) shall be available to the circuit clerk, county election commissioners or any other individual designated by the board of supervisors to be responsible for implementing boundary line changes into the Statewide Elections Management System.

(3) Any governmental entity authorized to adopt, amend or change boundary lines shall immediately forward all changed boundary lines to the appropriate circuit clerk, who shall, if authorized under subsection (2), implement the boundary line changes in the Statewide Elections Management System. If the circuit clerk is not the appropriate person to implement the boundary line changes, the clerk shall immediately forward a copy of all materials to the appropriate person. Copies of any boundary line changes within the county shall be maintained in the office of the circuit clerk and made available for public inspection. No change shall be implemented or enforced until the requirements of this section have been met.

(4) Precinct boundary changes affected by the authority of this section or of any other provision of law shall not be implemented during any decade after the last day of September of the year ending in eight (8). Precinct boundaries in force and effect at such time shall remain in effect and unalterable until the last day of December in the next year ending in zero. This prohibition shall not bar the creation or modification of sub-precinct boundaries.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-17-57 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 17 / Section 17-57
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-17-57
Status: in_force

(1) It is unlawful for a person to give or offer any consideration to an elector to induce the elector to vote for or against a measure.

(2) It is unlawful for a person to give or offer any consideration to an elector to induce the elector to sign or not sign a petition for a measure.

(3) It is unlawful for any person that pays or compensates another person for circulating a petition or for obtaining signatures on a petition to base the pay or compensation on the number of petitions circulated or the number of signatures obtained.

(4) It is unlawful for any person to solicit signatures on any petition under this chapter within one hundred fifty (150) feet of any polling place on any election day.

(5) It is unlawful for any person who circulates or causes to be circulated an initiative petition to obtain or attempt to obtain a person's signature (a) by intentionally misleading such person as to the substance or effect of the petition, or (b) by intentionally causing such person to be misled as to the substance or effect of the petition.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-507 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-507
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-507
Status: in_force

No OMR equipment shall be acquired or used in accordance with this chapter unless it shall:

(a) Permit eligible voters to vote at any election for all persons for whom they are lawfully entitled to vote; to vote for as many persons for an office as they are lawfully entitled to vote; to vote for or against any ballot initiative, measure or other local issue upon which they are lawfully entitled to vote;

(b) The OMR equipment shall be capable of rejecting choices marked on the ballot if the number of choices exceeds the number that the voter is entitled to vote for the office or on the measure;

(c) Permit each voter, in presidential elections, by one (1) mark to vote for the candidates of that party for President, Vice President, and their presidential electors, or to vote individually for the electors of their choice when permitted by law;

(d) Permit each voter, in other than primary elections, to vote for the nominees of one or more parties and for independent candidates;

(e) Permit each voter to vote for candidates only in the primary in which he or she is qualified to vote;

(f) Permit each voter to vote for persons whose names are not on the printed ballot;

(g) Be suitably designed for the purpose used, of durable construction, and may be used safely, efficiently and accurately in the conduct of elections and the counting of ballots;

(h) Be provided with means for sealing the ballots after the close of the polls;

(i) When properly operated, record correctly and count accurately all votes cast; and

(j) Provide the voter with a set of instructions that will be displayed in such a way that a voter may readily learn the method of voting.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-635 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-635
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-635
Status: in_force

(1) The form of the elector's certificate, attesting witness certification and certificate of the person providing voter assistance on the back of the envelope used by absentee voters who receive their ballot by mail and who are not absent voters as defined in Section 23-15-673 , shall be as follows:

“ELECTOR'S CERTIFICATE

STATE OF _____

COUNTY OF _____

I, _____, under penalty of perjury do solemnly swear that this envelope contains the ballot marked by me indicating my choice of the candidates or propositions to be submitted at the election to be held on the ___ day of _____, 2___, and I hereby authorize the registrar to place this envelope in the ballot box on my behalf, and I further authorize the resolution board to open this envelope and place my ballot among the other ballots cast before such ballots are counted, and record my name on the poll list as if I were present in person and voted.

I further swear that I marked the enclosed ballot in secret.

Section 23-15-753 Section 97-13-37

________________________________________

(Signature of voter)

CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTING WITNESS

Under penalty of perjury I affirm that the above named voter personally appeared before me, on this the ___ day of _____, 2___, and is known by me to be the person named, and who, after being duly sworn or having affirmed, subscribed the foregoing oath or affirmation. That the voter exhibited to me his or her blank ballot; that the ballot was not marked or voted before the voter exhibited the ballot to me; that the voter was not solicited or advised by me to vote for any candidate, question or issue, and that the voter, after marking his or her ballot, placed it in the envelope, closed and sealed the envelope in my presence, and signed and swore or affirmed the above certificate.

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

(Attesting witness)

(Address)

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

(Official title)

(City and State)

CERTIFICATE OF PERSON PROVIDING VOTER ASSISTANCE

(To be completed only if the voter has received assistance in marking the enclosed ballot.) I, under penalty of perjury, hereby certify that the above-named voter declared to me that he or she is blind, temporarily or permanently physically disabled, or cannot read or write, and that the voter requested that I assist the voter in marking the enclosed absentee ballot. I hereby certify that the ballot preferences on the enclosed ballot are those communicated by the voter to me, and that I have marked the enclosed ballot in accordance with the voter's instructions.

Section 23-15-753 Section 97-13-37

_____________________________________________________

Signature of person providing assistance

_____________________________________________________

Printed name of person providing assistance

_____________________________________________________

Address of person providing assistance

_____________________________________________________

Date and time assistance provided

_____________________________________________________

Family relationship to voter (if any)”

(2) The envelope shall have printed on the flap on the back of the envelope in bold print and in a distinguishing color, the following: “ YOUR VOTE WILL BE REJECTED AND NOT COUNTED IF THIS ENVELOPE IS NOT SIGNED BY YOU AND AN ATTESTING WITNESS IN THE BOXES ACROSS THE FLAP OF THIS ENVELOPE. ”

A portion of the elector's signature extending outside of the box shall not be grounds for rejecting that elector's ballot.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-17-45 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 17 / Section 17-45
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-17-45
Status: in_force

(1) A pamphlet containing a copy of all initiative measures and legislative alternatives, including the ballot title and ballot summary, arguments or explanations for and against each measure and alternative and the fiscal analysis prepared by the chief legislative budget officer shall be compiled by the Secretary of State. The sponsor may prepare the argument or explanation on the measure. If the sponsor does not prepare the argument or explanation, then the Secretary of State shall do so. Each argument or explanation shall not exceed three hundred (300) words. The Secretary of State shall publish the ballot title, ballot summary, full text of each measure and arguments or explanations for and against each measure and alternative once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks immediately preceding the election in at least one (1) newspaper of general circulation in each county of the state. The costs of such printing and publication shall be borne by the Secretary of State from funds appropriated by the Legislature.

(2) The Secretary of State shall conduct at least one (1) public hearing in each congressional district on each measure to be placed on the ballot and shall give public notice thereof at least thirty (30) days before a hearing.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-169.7 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-169.7
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-169.7
Status: in_force

(1) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund, to be designated the “Help Mississippi Vote Fund” to the credit of the Secretary of State, which shall be comprised of the monies required to be deposited into the fund under Section 7-3-59 , and any other funds that may be made available for the fund by the Legislature.

(2) Monies in the fund shall be expended by the Secretary of State to support the state's maintenance of efforts as required by the federal mandates of the Help America Vote Act of 2002.

(3) Unexpended amounts remaining in the special fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the special fund shall be deposited to the credit of the special fund.

(4) From and after July 1, 2016, the expenses of this agency shall be defrayed by line item appropriation from the State General Fund to the Office of Secretary of State and all user charges and fees authorized under this section shall be deposited into the State General Fund as authorized by law and as determined by the State Fiscal Officer, and shall not be authorized for expenditure by the Secretary of State to reimburse or otherwise defray expenses of any office administered by the Secretary of State.

(5) From and after July 1, 2016, no state agency shall charge another state agency a fee, assessment, rent or other charge for services or resources received by authority of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-331 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-331
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-331
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty of the state executive committee of each political party to furnish to each county executive committee, not less than fifty (50) days prior to the election, the names of all state and state district candidates and all candidates for legislative districts composed of more than one county or parts of more than one county who have qualified as provided by law, and in accordance with the requirements of Section 23-15-333 a sample of the official ballot to be used in the primary, the general form of which shall be followed as nearly as practicable.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-733 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-733
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-733
Status: in_force

The registrar shall keep safely and unopened all official presidential absentee ballots which are received subsequent to the deadline for receipt of mail absentee ballots provided for in Section 23-15-637 . Upon receipt of such ballot, the registrar shall write the day and hour of the receipt of the ballot on its envelope. All such absentee ballots returned to the registrar shall be safely kept unopened by the registrar for the period of time required for the preservation of ballots used in the election, and shall then, without being opened, be destroyed in like manner as the used ballots of the election. Such information shall be processed through the Statewide Election Management System.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-75 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-75
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-75
Status: in_force

Should the judgment of the circuit court be in favor of the right of an elector to be registered, the court shall so order, and shall, by its judgment, direct the registrar of the county forthwith to register him. Costs shall not, in any case, be adjudged against the county.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-17-43 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 17 / Section 17-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-17-43
Status: in_force

If any amendment to the Constitution proposed by initiative petition is rejected by a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon, no initiative petition proposing the same, or substantially the same, amendment shall be submitted to the electors for at least two (2) years after the date of the election on such amendment.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-195 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-195
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-195
Status: in_force

All elections by the people shall be by ballot, and shall be concluded in one (1) day.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-197 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-197
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-197
Status: in_force

(1) Times for holding primary and general elections for congressional offices shall be as prescribed in Sections 23-15-1031 , 23-15-1033 and 23-15-1041 .

(2) Times for holding elections for the office of judge of the Supreme Court shall be as prescribed in Section 23-15-991 and Sections 23-15-974 through 23-15-985 , and times for holding elections for the office of judge of the Court of Appeals shall be as prescribed in Section 9-4-5 .

(3) Times for holding elections for the office of circuit court judge and the office of chancery court judge shall be as prescribed in Sections 23-15-974 through 23-15-985 , and Section 23-15-1015 .

(4) Times for holding elections for the office of county election commissioners shall be as prescribed in Section 23-15-213 .

(5) Times for holding elections for the office of levee commissioner shall be as prescribed in Chapter 12, Laws of 1928; Chapter 574, Laws of 1968; Chapter 85, Laws of 1930; Chapter 317, Laws of 1983; and Chapter 438, Laws of 2010.

(6) Times for holding elections for the office of justice court judge shall be as prescribed in Section 23-15-193 and Sections 23-15-973 through 23-15-985 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-651 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-651
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-651
Status: in_force

The results of the vote by absentee balloting shall be announced simultaneously with the vote cast on election day; provided that absentee ballots received after 7:00 p.m. the day before the election shall be kept in a secured and sealed ballot box, and shall be announced after the five-business-day period for receiving absentee ballots.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-263 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-263
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-263
Status: in_force

(1) Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, the county executive committee at primary elections shall perform all duties that relate to the qualification of candidates for primary elections, print ballots for primary elections, appoint the primary election officers, resolve contests in regard to primary elections, and perform all other duties required by law to be performed by the county executive committee; however, each house of the Legislature shall rule on the qualifications of the membership of its respective body in contests involving the qualifications of such members. The executive committee shall be subject to all the penalties to which county election commissioners are subject, except that Section 23-15-217 shall not apply to members of the county executive committee who seek elective office.

(2) A member of a county executive committee shall be automatically disqualified to serve on the county executive committee, and shall be considered to have resigned therefrom, upon his qualification as a candidate for any elective office. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a member of a county executive committee who qualifies as a candidate for a municipal elective office.

(3) The primary election officers appointed by the executive committee of the party shall have the powers and perform the duties, where not otherwise provided, required of such officers in a general election, and any and every act or omission which by law is an offense when committed in or about or in respect to such general elections, shall be an offense if committed in or about or in respect to a primary election; and the same shall be indictable and punishable in the same way as if the election was a general election for the election of state and county officers, except as specially modified or otherwise provided in this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-837 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-837
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-837
Status: in_force

(1) When a special election is called to fill any state district office or legislative office and where only one (1) person has duly qualified with the State Board of Election Commissioners to be a candidate in the special election within the time prescribed by law for qualifying as a candidate, the State Board of Election Commissioners shall make a finding and determination of that fact, which shall be duly entered upon its official minutes.

(2) A finding and determination and certification to office by the State Board of Election Commissioners, as herein provided, shall dispense with the holding of the special election.

(3) A certified copy of the finding and determination of the State Board of Election Commissioners shall be filed with the Governor, and the Governor shall appoint the candidate so certified to fill the unexpired term.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-615 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-615
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-615
Status: in_force

The Secretary of State shall be authorized to audit election procedures of the 2023, 2024, 2026 and 2027 general elections in the counties of this state. The conduction of an audit shall not create excessive interference with the general duties and responsibilities of the Secretary of State, county registrar, and county election commission.

(a) The Secretary of State shall audit all eighty-two (82) counties by randomly selecting from each of the congressional districts during the 2023, 2024, 2026 and 2027 general elections, and randomly selecting no more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the total precincts or no more than five (5) precincts, whichever is less in each county. No county or precinct shall be selected for audit on the basis of race, geographical location or voting trends.

(i) If the Secretary of State finds any issues that could affect the outcome of an election or cause voters to be disenfranchised, then the Secretary of State, in partnership with the local county election officials, shall develop a plan to correct those issues, which shall include additional training.

(ii) The Secretary of State will have the discretion to randomly select the counties and precincts that will be audited, but must do so at least ninety (90) days before the election to be audited. No audit shall occur if the election is challenged as provided in Sections 23-15-927 , 23-15-951 or 23-15-955 . No audit shall occur until after a ballot box examination has occurred and the period to contest an election has expired, or if a runoff election occurs, the audit shall occur after the runoff election.

(b) In conducting a procedural audit, the Secretary of State shall audit the following:

(i) Procedures for testing of OMR equipment before counting ballots, including the ballots used for testing of OMR equipment, as required by Section 23-15-521 ;

(ii) Ballot accounting reports, seal logs, poll books, and receipt books as required to be kept by Section 23-15-519 ;

(iii) Absentee ballots, absentee ballot applications, and absentee ballot envelopes, along with the list provided to the resolution board, to ensure appropriate processing and counting of absentee ballots as required by Section 23-15-631 et seq. ; and

(iv) Affidavit ballots and affidavit ballot envelopes, including affidavit ballot receipt book to ensure compliance with appropriate processing and counting of affidavit ballots as required by Section 23-15-573 .

(c) By January 20, 2027, the Secretary of State shall provide a recommendation to the Mississippi Legislature on whether the procedures to be audited in paragraph (b) should be expanded or reduced.

(d) The Secretary of State shall develop a post-election audit manual which shall detail the policies and procedures for conducting post-election audits. The post-election audit manual shall not be altered less than ninety (90) days before an election in which the post-election audit manual shall be utilized in conducting a post-election audit.

(e) No later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the election that the Secretary of State is auditing, the Secretary of State shall compile a report of the procedural audits conducted and shall submit the report to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairmen of the Senate and House Election Committees. Prior to submitting the report, the Secretary of State shall allow the local county election officials to review the report and provide comments that will be submitted along with the report. The report shall first list all counties audited alphabetically with any major finding which may affect the outcome of the election and whether any voters were disenfranchised, then list out a detailed report of any major or minor findings, along with recommended changes to both county and Secretary of State practices.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-273 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-273
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-273
Status: in_force

No agency or state or local official responsible for conducting elections may solicit, accept, use or dispose of any donation in the form of money, grants, property or personal services from an individual or a nongovernmental entity for the purpose of funding election-related expenses or voter education, voter outreach or voter registration programs. This section does not prohibit the donation and acceptance of space to be used for a polling place. This section shall not prohibit an individual from contributing his or her personal time to assist with voter education, voter outreach, voter registration programs or other election-related programs as long as such individual receives no compensation or in-kind donation for contributing his or her time.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-611 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-611
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-611
Status: in_force

(1) In municipal elections, poll managers shall, immediately upon the closing of the polls, count the ballots and ascertain the number of votes cast in each voting precinct for each of the candidates or ballot measures and make a return thereof to the municipal election commissioners. On the day following the election, the election commissioners shall canvass the returns so received from all voting precincts and shall, within six (6) days after the election, deliver to each person receiving the highest number of votes a certificate of election. If it shall appear that any two (2) or more of the candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall have received an equal number of votes, the election shall be decided by a toss of a coin or by lot fairly and publicly drawn under the direction of the election commissioners.

(2)(a) Within six (6) days after any election, the municipal election commissioners shall transmit a statement to the Secretary of State certifying the name or names of the person or persons elected, and such person or persons shall be issued commissions by the Governor. The statement shall also include vote totals for each candidate for each office and vote totals for and against ballot measures, if any, including the vote totals for each candidate and ballot measure in each precinct in the municipality.

(b) The statements required by this subsection (2) shall contain a certification, signed and dated by a majority of the municipal election commissioners, which shall read as follows:

“We, the undersigned municipal election commissioners, do hereby certify that this statement contains the official vote for the election reflected therein.”

(c) The statements required by this subsection (2) shall be transmitted to the Secretary of State on such forms and by such methods as may be required by rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of State.

(d) If the statement certifying the names of the persons elected is not transmitted to the Secretary of State as required by this subsection (2), the Secretary of State may issue a show cause order directing the municipal election commissioners to provide to the Secretary of State written response containing the reasons for their failure to transmit the statement. The municipal election commissioners shall file their response to the show cause order with the Secretary of State within five (5) working days after the issuance of the show cause order. If the statement certifying the names of the persons elected is not transmitted to the Secretary of State within five (5) working days after the issuance of the show cause order, the Secretary of State may petition a court of competent jurisdiction to compel the municipal election commissioners to comply with this subsection (2). If the statement certifying the names of the persons elected is received by the Secretary of State within five (5) days after the issuance of the show cause order, a response to the show cause order shall not be required.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-245 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-245
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-245
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty of the poll manager designated as bailiff to be present at the voting place, and to take such steps as will accomplish the purpose of his or her appointment, and the poll manager designated as bailiff shall have full power to do so and may summon to his or her aid all persons present at the voting place. A space thirty (30) feet in every direction from the polls, or the room in which the election is held, shall be kept open and clear of all persons except the election officials, individuals present to vote and credentialed poll watchers as defined by Section 23-15-577 . The electors shall approach the polls from one (1) direction, line, door or passage, and depart in another as nearly opposite as convenient.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-685 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-685
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-685
Status: in_force

Within forty-five (45) days next prior to any election upon application first made to the registrar of the county by any absent voter as defined in this subarticle, such person shall be sent an absentee voter ballot of the county of which he is a citizen and resident. The registrar shall send to such absent voter a proper absentee voter ballot containing the names of all candidates who qualify or the proposition to be voted upon in such elections, and with such ballot there shall be sent an official envelope containing upon it in printed form the recitals and data hereinafter required.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-17-5 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 17 / Section 17-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-17-5
Status: in_force

Upon receipt of any proposed initiative measure, the Secretary of State shall submit a copy of the proposed measure to the Attorney General and give notice to the person filing the proposed measure of such transmittal. Upon receipt of the measure, the Attorney General may confer with the person filing the proposed measure and shall within ten (10) working days from receipt thereof review the proposal for matters of form and style, and such matters of substantive import as may be agreeable to the person filing the proposed measure, and shall recommend such revision or alteration of the measure as may be deemed necessary and appropriate. The recommendations of the Attorney General shall be advisory only, and the person filing the proposed measure may accept or reject them in whole or in part. The Attorney General shall issue a certificate of review certifying that he has reviewed the measure for form and style and that the recommendations thereon, if any, have been communicated to the person filing the proposed measure, and such certificate shall issue whether or not the person filing the proposed measure accepts such recommendations. Within fifteen (15) working days after notification of submittal of the proposed initiative measure to the Attorney General, the person filing the proposed measure, if he desires to proceed with his sponsorship, shall file the measure together with the certificate of review with the Secretary of State for assignment of a serial number and the Secretary of State shall thereupon submit to the Attorney General a certified copy of the measure filed. Upon submitting the proposal to the Secretary of State for assignment of a serial number the Secretary of State shall refuse to make such assignment unless the proposal is accompanied by a certificate of review.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-335 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-335
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-335
Status: in_force

(1) The county executive committee shall designate a person whose duty it shall be to distribute all necessary ballots for use in a primary election, and shall designate one (1) among the poll managers at each polling place to receive and receipt for the blank ballots to be used at that place. When the blank ballots are delivered to a local poll manager, the distributor shall take from the local poll manager a receipt therefor signed in duplicate by both the distributor and the poll manager, one (1) of which receipts the distributor shall deliver to the circuit clerk and the other shall be retained by the local poll manager and the last mentioned duplicate receipt shall be enclosed in the ballot box with the voted ballots when the polls have been closed and the votes have been counted. The printer of the ballots shall take a receipt from the distributor of the ballots for the total number of the blank ballots delivered to the distributor. The printer shall secure all ballots printed by him or her in such a safe manner that no person can procure them or any of them, and he or she shall deliver no blank ballot or ballots to any person except the distributor above mentioned, and then only upon his or her receipt therefor as above specified. The distributor of the blank ballots shall so securely hold the same that no person can obtain any of them, and he or she shall not deliver any of them to any person other than to the authorized local poll managers and upon their respective receipts therefor. The executive committee shall see to it that the total blank ballots delivered to the distributor, shall correspond with the total of the receipts executed by the local poll managers.

(2)(a) If it is eligible under Section 23-15-266 , the county executive committee may enter into a written agreement with the circuit clerk or the county election commission authorizing the circuit clerk or the county election commission to perform any of the duties required of the county executive committee pursuant to this section. Any agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection shall be signed by the chair of the county executive committee and the circuit clerk or the chair of the county election commission, as appropriate. The county executive committee shall notify the state executive committee and the Secretary of State of the existence of such agreement.

(b) If it is eligible under Section 23-15-266 , the municipal executive committee may enter into a written agreement with the municipal clerk or the municipal election commission authorizing the municipal clerk or the municipal election commission to perform any of the duties required of the municipal executive committee pursuant to this section. Any agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection shall be signed by the chair of the municipal executive committee and the municipal clerk or the chair of the municipal election commission, as appropriate. The municipal executive committee shall notify the state executive committee and the Secretary of State of the existence of such agreement.

(3) Any person charged with any of the duties prescribed in this section who shall willfully or with culpable carelessness violate the same shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-521 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-521
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-521
Status: in_force

Before counting the ballots, the election commissioners, or their designees, shall have the OMR equipment tested to ascertain that it will accurately count the votes cast for all offices and on all measures. Representatives of the political parties, candidates, the press and the general public may witness the test conducted on the OMR equipment. The test shall be conducted by processing a preaudited group of ballots so marked as to record a predetermined number of valid votes for each candidate and on each measure, and shall include for each office one or more ballots that have votes in excess of the number allowed by law in order to test the ability of the OMR equipment to reject such votes. If any error is detected, the cause of the error shall be ascertained and corrected and an errorless count shall be made and certified to by the officials in charge before the count is started. On completion of the count, the programs, test materials and ballots shall be sealed and retained as provided for paper ballots.
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-649 — MS Code / Title 23 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-649
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-649
Status: in_force

For all elections, the election officials shall prepare and print, as soon as the deadline for the qualification of candidates has passed or forty-five (45) days before the election, whichever is later, official ballots for each voting precinct to be known as absentee voter ballots, which ballots shall be prepared and printed in the same form and shall be of the same size and texture as the regular official ballot except that they shall be printed on tinted paper of a tint different from that of the regular official ballot or with a header of different tint.