reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MS Code § 23-15-581 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 23 - Elections|Chapter 15 - Mississippi Election Code|Article 17 - Conduct of Elections|Affidavit Ballots and Challenged Ballots|§ 23-15-581. Closing polls, opening ballot box and counting votes

 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.
MS Code § 23-15-591 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 23 - Elections|Chapter 15 - Mississippi Election Code|Article 17 - Conduct of Elections|Determining the Results of Elections|§ 23-15-591. Proclamation of results; sealing of ballot box

 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.
MS Code § 23-15-593 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 23 - Elections|Chapter 15 - Mississippi Election Code|Article 17 - Conduct of Elections|Determining the Results of Elections|§ 23-15-593. Irregularities in ballot box

 When the ballot box is opened and examined by the county executive committee in the case of a primary election, or county election commissioners in the case of other elections, and it is found that there have been failures in material particulars to comply with the requirements of Section 23-15-591 and Section 23-15-895 to such an extent that it is impossible to arrive at the will of the voters at such precinct, the entire box may be thrown out unless it be made to appear with reasonable certainty that the irregularities were not deliberately permitted or engaged in by the poll managers at that box, or by one (1) of them responsible for the wrong or wrongs, for the purpose of electing or defeating a certain candidate or candidates by manipulating the election or the returns thereof at that box in such manner as to have it thrown out; in which latter case the county executive committee, or the county election commission, as appropriate, shall conduct such hearing and make such determination in respect to the box as may appear lawfully just, subject to a judicial review of the matter as elsewhere provided by this chapter. Or the executive committee, or the election commission, or the court upon review, may order another election to be held at that box appointing new poll managers to hold the same.
MS Code § 23-15-595 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 23 - Elections|Chapter 15 - Mississippi Election Code|Article 17 - Conduct of Elections|Determining the Results of Elections|§ 23-15-595. Procedure for sealing of ballot box; reopening and resealing

 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.
MS Code § 23-15-599 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 23 - Elections|Chapter 15 - Mississippi Election Code|Article 17 - Conduct of Elections|Determining the Results of Elections|§ 23-15-599. Tabulated statement of party vote

    Within ten (10) days after the first primary election and within ten (10) days after the second primary election, if any, the Chairman of the State Executive Committee shall transmit to the Secretary of State a tabulated statement of the party vote cast in each county and precinct in each county in each state and state district election, and each legislative election for districts consisting of more than one (1) county or parts of more than one (1) county. The statement shall be transmitted by the State Executive Committee on such forms and by such methods as may be required by rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of State. The statement shall be filed by the Secretary of State and preserved among the records of his office.   The statement provided for in paragraph (a) of this subsection shall contain a certification signed and dated by the Chairman of the State Executive Committee, which shall read as follows:  "I_______________ , Chairman of the_______________Party State Executive Committee, do hereby certify that, on a majority vote of the_______________Party State Executive Committee, these vote totals for each county and for each candidate are the official vote totals for the election reflected therein."        Within ten (10) days after the first primary election and within ten (10) days after the second primary election, if any, the county executive committee shall transmit to the Secretary of State a tabulated statement of the party vote cast in their county and each precinct in their county in each election for county and county district office and each election for legislative office for districts containing one (1) county or less. The statement shall be transmitted by the county executive committee on such forms and by such methods as may be required by rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of State. The statement shall be filed by the Secretary of State and preserved among the records of his office.   The statement provided for in paragraph (a) of this subsection shall contain a certification signed and dated by the majority of the members of the county executive committee, which shall read as follows:  "We, the undersigned members of the county executive committee, do hereby certify that these vote totals for each candidate are the official vote totals for the election reflected therein."
MS Code § 23-15-600 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 23 - Elections|Chapter 15 - Mississippi Election Code|Article 17 - Conduct of Elections|Determining the Results of Elections|§ 23-15-600. Forms for reporting election returns

 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.
MS Code § 23-15-601 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 23 - Elections|Chapter 15 - Mississippi Election Code|Article 17 - Conduct of Elections|Determining the Results of Elections|§ 23-15-601. Canvass of returns and declaration of results by election commissioners; determination of tie vote

  When the result of the election shall have been ascertained by the poll managers they, or one (1) of their number, or some fit person designated by them, shall, on the night of the election, deliver to the election commissioners, at the courthouse, a statement of the whole number of votes given for each person and for what office; and the election commissioners shall canvass the returns, ascertain and declare the result, and, within ten (10) days after the day of the election, shall deliver a certificate of the election to the person having the greatest number of votes for representative in the Legislature of districts composed of one (1) county or less, or other county office, board of supervisors, justice court judge and constable. If it appears that two (2) or more candidates for Representative of the county, or part of the county, or for any county office, board of supervisors, justice court judge or constable standing highest on the list, and not elected, have an equal number of votes, the interested candidates shall appear before the election commissioners within two (2) days after the canvass and the tie shall be determined by a toss of a coin or by lot fairly and publicly drawn, and a certificate of election shall be given accordingly. The foregoing provisions shall apply to Senators, if the county be a senatorial district.   The election commissioners shall transmit 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, a statement of the total number of votes cast in the county for each candidate for each office and the total number of votes cast for such candidates in each precinct in the district in which the candidate ran.
MS Code § 23-15-603 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 23 - Elections|Chapter 15 - Mississippi Election Code|Article 17 - Conduct of Elections|Determining the Results of Elections|§ 23-15-603. Delivery of returns to Secretary of State

  The election commissioners shall, within ten (10) days after the general election, 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 any office at the election; but the returns of every election for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Auditor of Public Accounts, State Treasurer, Commissioner of Insurance and other state officers, shall each be made out separately, sealed up together and transmitted to the seat of government, directed to the Secretary of State, and endorsed the "VOTE FOR STATE OFFICERS," to be delivered by the Secretary of State to the Speaker of the House of Representatives at the next ensuing session of the Legislature. In addition to the other information required pursuant to this subsection, the returns for state officers shall contain a statement of the whole number of votes given in each House of Representative district or portion thereof for each candidate for state office at the election.   Constitutional amendments shall be voted for at the time fixed by the concurrent resolution. The election, whether held separately or with other elections, shall be conducted, in all respects, as required for elections generally. The election commissioners shall, within ten (10) days after the election, transmit to the Secretary of State 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 or against constitutional amendments.   The statements certified by the election commissioners and transmitted to the Secretary of State, as required by this section, shall be tabulated by the Secretary of State and submitted to each branch of the Legislature, at the session next ensuing. Certified county vote totals shall represent the final results of the election.   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 contains the official vote for the election reflected therein."    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.
MS Code § 23-15-605 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 23 - Elections|Chapter 15 - Mississippi Election Code|Article 17 - Conduct of Elections|Determining the Results of Elections|§ 23-15-605. Ascertainment of vote and declaration of results by Secretary of State; determination of tie vote

 The Secretary of State, immediately after receiving the returns of an election, not longer than thirty (30) days after the election, shall sum up the whole number of votes given for each candidate other than candidates for state offices, legislative offices composed of one (1) county or less, county offices and county district offices, according to the statements of the votes certified to him or her and ascertain the person or persons having the largest number of votes for each office, and declare such person or persons to be duly elected; and thereupon all persons chosen to any office at the election shall be commissioned by the Governor; but if it appears that two (2) or more candidates for any district office where the district is composed of two (2) or more counties, 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.
MS Code § 23-15-607 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 23 - Elections|Chapter 15 - Mississippi Election Code|Article 17 - Conduct of Elections|Determining the Results of Elections|§ 23-15-607. Determination of election for judges of Supreme Court and Court of Appeals

  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.   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."    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.
MS Code § 23-15-609 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 23 - Elections|Chapter 15 - Mississippi Election Code|Article 17 - Conduct of Elections|Determining the Results of Elections|§ 23-15-609. Determination of election in which city or county is entitled to separate representation in legislature

 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.
MS Code § 23-15-621 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 23 - Elections|Chapter 15 - Mississippi Election Code|Article 19 - Absentee Ballots|Absentee Balloting Procedures Law|§ 23-15-621. Short title

 The title of Sections 23-15-621 through 23-15-653 of this chapter shall be the Absentee Balloting Procedures Law.
MS Code § 23-15-623 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 23 - Elections|Chapter 15 - Mississippi Election Code|Article 19 - Absentee Ballots|Absentee Balloting Procedures Law|§ 23-15-623. Application to absentee ballots authorized in Subarticles B, C, and D

 All absentee ballots as authorized in Sections 23-15-671 through 23-15-697, in Sections 23-15-711 through 23-15-721, and Sections 23-15-731 and 23-15-733, shall be handled as provided in Sections 23-15-621 through 23-15-653.
MS Code § 23-15-629 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 23 - Elections|Chapter 15 - Mississippi Election Code|Article 19 - Absentee Ballots|Absentee Balloting Procedures Law|§ 23-15-629. Applications by persons who are permanently physically disabled; listing of qualified electors; distribution of ballots

  The application for an absentee ballot of a person who is permanently physically disabled shall be accompanied by a statement signed by such person's physician, or nurse practitioner, which statement must show that the person signing the statement is a licensed, practicing medical doctor or nurse practitioner and must indicate that the person applying for the absentee ballot is permanently physically disabled to such a degree that it is difficult for him to vote in person.   An application accompanied by the statement provided for in subsection (1) of this section shall entitle such permanently physically disabled person to automatically receive an absentee ballot for all elections on a continuing basis without the necessity for reapplication.   The registrar of each county shall keep an accurate list of the names and addresses of all persons whose applications for absentee ballot are accompanied by the statement set forth in subsection (1) of this section. Sixty (60) days prior to each election, the registrar shall deliver such list to the commissioners of election who shall examine the list and delete from it the names of all persons listed who are no longer qualified electors of the county. Upon completion of such examination, the commissioners of election shall return the list to the registrar by no later than forty-five (45) days prior to the election.   The registrar shall send a ballot to all persons who are determined by the commissioners of election to be qualified electors pursuant to subsection (3) of this section by no later than forty (40) days prior to the election.
MS Code § 23-15-633 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 23 - Elections|Chapter 15 - Mississippi Election Code|Article 19 - Absentee Ballots|Absentee Balloting Procedures Law|§ 23-15-633. Signatures of elector and attesting witness across flap of envelope

 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 across the flap of the envelope to insure 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 ACROSS THE FLAP OF THIS ENVELOPE BY YOU AND AN ATTESTING WITNESS."
MS Code § 23-15-637 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 23 - Elections|Chapter 15 - Mississippi Election Code|Article 19 - Absentee Ballots|Absentee Balloting Procedures Law|§ 23-15-637. Timely casting of ballots

 Absentee ballots received by mail, except presidential ballots as provided for in Sections 23-15-731 and 23-15-733 and except as otherwise provided by Section 23-15-699, must be received by the registrar by 5:00 p.m. on the date preceding the election; any received after such time shall be handled as provided in Section 23-15-647 and shall not be counted. All ballots cast by the absent elector appearing in person in the office of the registrar shall be cast 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. The registrar shall deposit all absentee ballots which have been timely cast in the ballot boxes upon receipt.