AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-637, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ALL ABSENTEE BALLOTS CAST IN PERSON AT THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR SHALL BE CAST USING THE OPTICAL MARK READING EQUIPMENT; TO PROVIDE THAT THE OPTICAL MARK READING EQUIPMENT SHALL BE SEALED EACH NIGHT; TO PROVIDE THAT IF FOR ANY REASON THE OPTICAL MARK READING EQUIPMENT BECOMES INOPERABLE, PAPER ABSENTEE BALLOTS SHALL BE USED; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-659, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE HOW THE ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS AND ELECTOR'S CERTIFICATES ARE PRINTED FOR ALL ABSENTEE BALLOTS THAT ARE CAST IN PERSON AT THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR; TO AMEND SECTIONS 23-15-639, 23-15-645, 23-15-627, 23-15-633, 23-15-625, 23-15-715, 23-15-719, 23-15-507, 23-15-515, 23-15-517, 23-15-523 AND 23-15-525, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 23-15-591, 23-15-581 AND 23-15-595, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROCESSING OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS MAY BEGIN ON THE MONDAY BEFORE THE ELECTION BUT THE ABSENTEE BALLOTS SHALL BE ANNOUNCED SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH ALL OTHER VOTES CAST ON ELECTION DAY; TO PROVIDE THAT THE COUNTING AND TALLYING OF BALLOTS MUST BE FINISHED ON ELECTION NIGHT; TO PROVIDE THAT NO BALLOT BOX SHALL BE SEALED UNTIL ALL THE VOTES FOR THAT PRECINCT HAVE BEEN COUNTED AND REPORTED TO THE TABULATION CENTER; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 23-15-505, 23-15-511, 23-15-513, 23-15-519 AND 23-15-521, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 23-15-637, 23-15-659, 23-15-639, 23-15-645, 23-15-627, 23-15-633, 23-15-625, 23-15-715, 23-15-719, 23-15-507, 23-15-515, 23-15-517, 23-15-523, 23-15-525, 23-15-505, 23-15-511, 23-15-513, 23-15-519, 23-15-521
Committee Substitute: 23-15-637, 23-15-659, 23-15-639, 23-15-645, 23-15-627, 23-15-633, 23-15-625, 23-15-715, 23-15-719, 23-15-507, 23-15-515, 23-15-517, 23-15-523, 23-15-525, 23-15-505, 23-15-511, 23-15-513, 23-15-519, 23-15-521, 23-15-591, 23-15-581, 23-15-595
As Passed by the House: 23-15-637, 23-15-659, 23-15-639, 23-15-645, 23-15-627, 23-15-633, 23-15-625, 23-15-715, 23-15-719, 23-15-507, 23-15-515, 23-15-517, 23-15-523, 23-15-525, 23-15-505, 23-15-511, 23-15-513, 23-15-519, 23-15-521, 23-15-591, 23-15-581, 23-15-595