Bill > HB23

This bill amends Mississippi state election law regarding the handling and counting of absentee ballots, specifically changing the timing and process for when these ballots can be counted. Under the revised law, absentee ballots received before 7:00 p.m. the day before an election will be counted when the polls open on election day, and the resolution board (a group trained to manage absentee ballots) will be required to post the vote totals of these ballots immediately after counting. For absentee ballots received after that cutoff but within five business days of the election, the resolution board must process these ballots by 5:00 p.m. on the sixth business day after the election. The bill maintains existing procedures for verifying voter signatures and eligibility, including comparing signatures on ballot envelopes and ensuring the voter is registered. The new provisions aim to provide more transparency in the absentee ballot counting process by mandating the public posting of vote totals, and establish a clear deadline for processing late-arriving ballots. The changes will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Government Affairs

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0023.xml