Senate Bill 2642

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-673, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE SPOUSE AND DEPENDANTS OF AN ABSENT VOTER AS DEFINED IN THE ARMED FORCES ABSENTEE VOTER LAW MAY REGISTER TO VOTE AS PROVIDED UNDER SUCH LAW; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-677, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ABSENT VOTERS WHO REGISTER TO VOTE UTILIZING A FEDERAL POSTCARD APPLICATION OR A FEDERAL WRITE-IN-ABSENTEE BALLOT MAY VOTE IN AN ELECTION IF THEY WERE REGISTERED TO VOTE 10 OR MORE DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF THE ELECTION; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-687, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT AN APPLICATION FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT UNDER THE ARMED FORCES ABSENTEE VOTING LAW SHALL SERVE AS A REQUEST BY THE APPLICANT THROUGH THE DATE OF THE NEXT FEDERAL ELECTION RATHER THAN THE NEXT TWO FEDERAL ELECTIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-692, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT UPON RECEIPT OF A FEDERAL WRITE-IN-ABSENTEE BALLOT EXECUTED BY A PERSON WHO IS A REGISTERED VOTER OR WHOSE INFORMATION ON THE FORM IS SUFFICIENT TO REGISTER OR UPDATE THE REGISTRATION OF THAT PERSON, THE FEDERAL WRITE-IN-ABSENTEE BALLOT SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS AN ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUEST; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-693, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE ABSENT VOTERS VOTING PURSUANT TO THE ARMED FORCES ABSENTEE VOTING LAW TO COMPLETE THE DECLARATION SPECIFIED BY THE FEDERAL UNIFORMED AND OVERSEAS CITIZENS ABSENTEE VOTING ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-699, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ABSENT VOTERS WHO HAVE REQUESTED TO RECEIVE ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND BALLOTING MATERIALS PURSUANT TO THE ARMED FORCES ABSENTEE VOTING LAW MAY CHOOSE TO RECEIVE SUCH BALLOTS AND BALLOTING MATERIALS BY MAIL, FACSIMILE DEVICE (FAX) OR ELECTRONIC MAIL DELIVERY (E-MAIL) AND TO PROVIDE THAT IF THE ABSENT VOTER DOES NOT INDICATE A PREFERENCE, DELIVERY SHALL BE BY MAIL; TO AUTHORIZE REGISTRARS TO RECEIVE VOTED ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND COMPLETED FEDERAL POSTCARD APPLICATIONS BY ELECTRONIC MAIL DELIVERY AND TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR THE HANDLING OF SUCH BALLOTS; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-701, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE ABSENT VOTERS UTILIZING THE ARMED FORCES ABSENTEE VOTING LAW TO RECEIVE VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION, ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS, ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND OTHER VOTING INFORMATION BY CONTACTING THE SECRETARY OF STATE IN THE MANNER ESTABLISHED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE; TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO ADOPT RULES TO IMPLEMENT THE ARMED FORCES ABSENTEE VOTING LAW AND TO BRING THE STATE INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL UNIFORMED AND OVERSEAS CITIZENS ABSENTEE VOTING ACT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 23-15-125, 23-15-635, 23-15-681 AND 23-15-691, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; TO REPEAL SECTION 23-15-695, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH SPECIFIES THOSE PERSONS AUTHORIZED TO ADMINISTER AND ATTEST OATHS FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS UNDER THE ARMED SERVICES ABSENTEE VOTING LAW; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the Senate

• David Blount

  Sponsor

• House of Representatives committee amendmentPending

• House of Representatives floor amendmentPending

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the Senate Jan 14 – Feb 10

1. Jan 14Referred to the Senate committee on Elections
2. Jan 28Reported from committee in the Senate: title sufficient, do pass as a committee substitute
3. Feb 10Committee substitute adopted in the Senate
4. Passed the Senate

In the House of Representatives Feb 11 – Mar 5

1. Feb 11Sent to the House
2. Feb 16Referred to the House committee on Apportionment and Elections
3. Feb 25Reported from committee in the House: title sufficient, do pass as amended
4. Mar 4Tabled in the House, subject to being called up again
5. Mar 5Amended in the House
6. Passed the House as amended

Back in the Senate Mar 9 – Mar 19

1. Mar 9Returned to the Senate to concur in the House's amendments
2. Mar 17Concurred in the Senate in the House's amendments
3. Mar 19Enrolled bill signed in the Senate

To the Governor Mar 23 – Mar 29

1. Mar 23Enrolled bill signed in the House
2. Mar 29Approved by the Governor