Bill > HB321

This bill modifies Mississippi's election procedures regarding ballots when a candidate is removed from a race after ballots have already been printed. Currently, ballots include a blank space for write-in candidates, but the bill eliminates this blank space and instead mandates the printing of a supplementary ballot that will include the substituted candidate's name. The supplementary ballot will only contain the specific race where a candidate has been replaced and will be formatted and distributed in the same manner as regular election day ballots. For voters who have already cast absentee ballots before the supplementary ballot is printed, they will be notified of the supplementary ballot's existence and given the option to return to the circuit clerk's office to vote the new ballot or have it mailed to them (with mailing limited to those qualified for absentee voting by mail). The bill amends multiple sections of Mississippi election law to conform to these new provisions, removing references to write-in spaces and standardizing the process for replacing candidates after ballot printing. These changes aim to provide a more streamlined and clear method for handling candidate changes close to an election, ensuring voters have accurate information about their voting options. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, giving election officials time to prepare for the new procedures.

Government Affairs

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0321.xml