AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-637, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ALL ABSENTEE BALLOTS CAST IN THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR MAY BE CAST ON EITHER A DIRECT RECORDING ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEM OR ON A BALLOT THAT IS FED THROUGH AN OPTICAL MARK READING EQUIPMENT MACHINE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE VOTING SYSTEM USED SHALL BE SEALED AT THE CLOSE OF EACH BUSINESS DAY AND SHALL REMAIN SEALED UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY; TO PROVIDE THAT ALL VOTES CAST BY ABSENTEE BALLOT SHALL BE FINAL; TO PROVIDE THAT NO PERSON WHO VOTES ABSENTEE BEFORE THE ELECTION SHALL BE ALLOWED TO VOTE IN PERSON ON ELECTION DAY; TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS; TO PROVIDE THAT ABSENTEE BALLOTS RECEIVED BY MAIL MUST BE POST MARKED BY THE DATE OF THE ELECTION AND RECEIVED BY THE REGISTRAR NO MORE THAN FIVE BUSINESS DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-645, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ABSENTEE VOTES CAST IN THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE SHALL BE TALLIED ON ELECTION DAY AND ANNOUNCED SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH ALL OTHER VOTES CAST ON ELECTION DAY; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-649, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT, FOR ALL ELECTIONS, THE ELECTION OFFICIALS SHALL PREPARE EITHER OFFICIAL BALLOTS FOR THE DIRECT RECORDING ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEM OR OFFICIAL BALLOTS TO BE FED THROUGH THE OPTICAL MARK READING EQUIPMENT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 23-15-715 AND 23-15-719, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE PROCESS BY WHICH AN ABSENT ELECTOR APPLIES TO VOTE ABSENTEE; TO PROVIDE THE PROCESS FOR AN ABSENTEE VOTER TO VOTE ABSENTEE BY MAIL; TO AMEND SECTIONS 23-15-625, 23-15-627, 23-15-629, 23-15-631, 23-15-635, 23-15-639, 23-15-641, 23-15-647, 23-15-713, 23-15-721, 23-15-731 AND 23-15-735, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 23-15-637, 23-15-645, 23-15-649, 23-15-715, 23-15-719, 23-15-625, 23-15-627, 23-15-629, 23-15-631, 23-15-635, 23-15-639, 23-15-641, 23-15-647, 23-15-713, 23-15-721, 23-15-731, 23-15-735
Committee Substitute: 23-15-637, 23-15-645, 23-15-649, 23-15-715, 23-15-719, 23-15-625, 23-15-627, 23-15-629, 23-15-631, 23-15-635, 23-15-639, 23-15-641, 23-15-647, 23-15-713, 23-15-721, 23-15-731, 23-15-735
As Passed by the House: 23-15-637, 23-15-645, 23-15-649, 23-15-715, 23-15-719, 23-15-625, 23-15-627, 23-15-629, 23-15-631, 23-15-635, 23-15-639, 23-15-641, 23-15-647, 23-15-713, 23-15-721, 23-15-731, 23-15-735