Bill > HB788

This bill makes several changes to Mississippi's election laws, primarily concerning affidavit ballots, which are provisional ballots cast by voters whose eligibility is in question on election day. Firstly, it allows an affidavit ballot to serve as a voter's registration if the voter was otherwise eligible to vote in the jurisdiction where they attempted to vote but was not a registered voter there, meaning their vote won't be counted in that election but will effectively register them to vote. Secondly, it clarifies that casting a valid affidavit ballot can also serve as a written request to transfer a voter's registration to a new precinct or ward if they have moved within the same county or municipality. Finally, it ensures that if a voter who was placed on "inactive status" in the Statewide Elections Management System (a system used to manage voter registration) casts an affidavit ballot, they will be automatically returned to "active status," meaning their registration is fully reinstated. These changes aim to streamline the voting process for certain individuals and ensure their registrations are properly updated.

Government Affairs

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB0788.xml