Bill > SB2593

This bill establishes a closed primary system in Mississippi, meaning only registered voters affiliated with a specific political party can vote in that party's primary election, while voters not affiliated with any party can still vote in nonpartisan elections held concurrently. The bill mandates that by January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, each political party's state executive committee must inform the Secretary of State of any qualifications for voters to participate in their primaries, provided these qualifications are consistent with state law. Furthermore, the Secretary of State is authorized to create a uniform statewide voter registration application that will be used to record a voter's party affiliation, and this application will be accepted for various purposes including initial registration, address changes, and party affiliation updates. Voting in a primary for a party other than the one a voter is registered with will be considered vote fraud, carrying penalties outlined in existing law. The bill also amends several sections of Mississippi Code to integrate party affiliation into the Statewide Elections Management System, allowing circuit and municipal clerks to record this information, and clarifies procedures for voter registration and updates using the new uniform application.

Government Affairs

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/SB/SB2593.xml