House Bill 1521

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 23-15-637 AND 23-15-651, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ABSENTEE BALLOTS RECEIVED BY MAIL MUST BE POSTMARKED BY THE DATE OF THE ELECTION AND RECEIVED BY THE REGISTRAR NO MORE THAN FIVE BUSINESS DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION; TO PRESCRIBE THE TIME FOR CASING ALL ABSENTEE BALLOTS IN PERSON IN THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR TO BE DEPOSITED IN A SECURED AND SEALED BOX IN THE CIRCUIT CLERK'S OFFICE UPON RECEIPT; TO PROVIDE THAT THE BALLOT BOX USED SHALL BE SEALED AT THE CLOSE OF EACH BUSINESS DAY AND SHALL REMAIN SEALED UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY; TO PROVIDE THAT ALL VOTES CAST BY ABSENTEE BALLOT SHALL BE FINAL; TO PROVIDE THAT NO PERSON WHO VOTES ABSENTEE BEFORE THE ELECTION SHALL BE ALLOWED TO VOTE IN PERSON ON ELECTION DAY; TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO ISSUE CERTAIN RULES RELATING TO ABSENTEE BALLOTS; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-645, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ABSENTEE BALLOTS CAST IN THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE SHALL BE PROCESSED ON ELECTION DAY AND ANNOUNCED SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH ALL OTHER VOTES CAST ON ELECTION DAY; TO PROVIDE FOR THE RETENTION AND DESTRUCTION OF PACKAGES OF PROTESTED, VOID AND WHOLLY BLANK BALLOTS, VOTED BALLOTS, OPEN PACKAGES OF UNUSED BALLOTS, SEALED PACKAGES OF UNUSED BALLOTS, AND ALL ABSENTEE AND MILITARY BALLOTS AND BALLOT ENVELOPES; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-649, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT FOR ALL ELECTIONS THE ELECTION OFFICIALS SHALL PREPARE ABSENTEE BALLOTS IN THE SAME FORM AS OFFICIAL BALLOTS OR BALLOTS WITH A HEADER OF DIFFERENT TINT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 23-15-627 AND 23-15-713, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXTEND THE ELIGIBILITY FOR ABSENTEE VOTING IN PERSON OR BY MAIL TO ANY PERSON UNABLE TO APPEAR PERSONALLY AT THE POLLING PLACE OF THE ELECTION DISTRICT IN WHICH HE OR SHE IS A QUALIFIED VOTER BECAUSE OF A PHYSICIAN-IMPOSED QUARANTINE DUE TO COVID-19 DURING THE YEAR 2020 OR THE VOTER IS CARING FOR A PERSON WHO MAY BE EXPOSED TO SUCH RISK; TO AMEND SECTIONS 23-15-715 AND 23-15-719, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT FOR ALL ELECTIONS THE REGISTRAR SHALL MAIL TOGETHER TO THE ABSENTEE VOTER THE APPLICATION AND PROPER ABSENTEE VOTER BALLOT; TO PROVIDE CERTAIN CONDITIONS ON COUNTING ABSENTEE BALLOTS BY THE RESOLUTION BOARD; TO AMEND SECTIONS 23-15-625, 23-15-629, 23-15-631, 23-15-635, 23-15-639, 23-15-641, 23-15-647, 23-15-699, 23-15-721, 23-15-731, 23-15-733 AND 23-15-735, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the House of Representatives

• Charles Jim Beckett

  Sponsor

• Senate committee amendmentPending

• Senate floor amendmentPending

• Senate floor amendmentPending

• Senate floor amendmentPending

• Senate floor amendmentPending

• Senate floor amendmentPending

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

In the House of Representatives Feb 17 – Mar 10

1. Feb 17Referred to the House committee on Apportionment and Elections
2. Feb 27Reported from committee in the House: title sufficient, do pass
3. Mar 10Passed the House

In the Senate Mar 11 – Jun 15

1. Mar 11Sent to the Senate
2. May 11Referred to the Senate committee on Elections
3. Jun 8Reported from committee in the Senate: title sufficient, do pass as amended
4. Jun 15Amended in the Senate
5. Passed the Senate as amended

Back in the House of Representatives Jun 17 – Jul 1

1. Jun 17Returned to the House to concur in the Senate's amendments
2. Jun 19Declined in the House to concur, and invited a conference
3. Jun 22Conferees named in the House: Beckett, Eubanks and Reynolds
4. Conferees named in the Senate: Branning, Tate and Blount
5. Jun 26Conference report filed in the House
6. Conference report filed in the Senate
7. Jun 28Conference report adopted in the House
8. Jun 29Conference report adopted in the Senate
9. Motion in the Senate to reconsider entered
10. Jun 30Motion in the Senate to reconsider tabled
11. Jul 1Enrolled bill signed in the House

To the Governor Jul 2 – Jul 8

1. Jul 2Enrolled bill signed in the Senate
2. Jul 8Approved by the Governor