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Bill > HB1253


MS HB1253

MS HB1253
Safeguard Honest Integrity in Elections for Lasting Democracy (SHIELD) Act; create.


summary

Introduced
01/19/2026
In Committee
02/17/2026
Crossed Over
02/10/2026
Passed
Dead
03/03/2026

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

An Act To Be Known As The "safeguard Honest Integrity In Elections For Lasting Democracy (shield) Act"; To Amend Section 23-15-15, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Revise The Procedure By Which A Registrar Verifies An Applicant's Citizenship Upon Receipt Of A Completed Voter Registration Application; To Require The Registrar To Enter Each Applicant's Information Into The United States Citizenship And Immigration Service's Systematic Alien Verification For Entitlements (save); To Require Registrars To Make Annual Reports To The Secretary Of State Regarding The Number Of Applicants Flagged By A Save System Check And The Number Removed Following Confirmation; To Create New Section 23-15-165.1, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require The Secretary Of State To Conduct An Annual Comparison Of The Statewide Elections Management System Records With The Save Database And To Report Ineligible Matches To The Appropriate Registrar; To Create New Section 23-15-165.2, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require The Secretary Of State To Annually Report To The Legislature On The Results Achieved With The Save System; To Create New Section 23-15-165.3, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Exempt Personally Identifiable Information Collected Through Use Of The Save System From The Mississippi Public Records Act Of 1983; To Create New Section 23-15-165.4, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Provide For Severability Of The Provisions Of The Preceding Sections; And For Related Purposes.

AI Summary

This bill, known as the Safeguard Honest Integrity in Elections for Lasting Democracy (SHIELD) Act, revises how voter registration applications are verified for citizenship in Mississippi. It mandates that registrars use the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service's Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system to check an applicant's citizenship status. Registrars will now be required to report annually to the Secretary of State on the number of applicants flagged by SAVE and those removed from voter rolls after verification. The Secretary of State will also conduct an annual comparison of statewide election records with the SAVE database, reporting any potential mismatches to registrars, and will submit an annual report to the legislature detailing the results of the SAVE system's use. Importantly, any personally identifiable information collected through SAVE will be exempt from public disclosure under Mississippi's Public Records Act. This legislation aims to enhance the integrity of elections by strengthening citizenship verification processes for new voter registrations.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (2)

Last Action

Died In Committee (on 03/03/2026)

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