MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Elections

By: Senator(s) Harden (By Request)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-239, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO COMPENSATE MANAGERS WHO ATTEND TRAINING SESSIONS CONDUCTED BEFORE THE ELECTION AS TO THEIR DUTIES IN THE PROPER ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS AND THE OPERATION OF THE POLLING PLACE; TO REQUIRE THE TIME AND LOCATION OF THE TRAINING SESSIONS TO BE ANNOUNCED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC; TO ALLOW POLL WATCHERS AND MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO ATTEND THE SESSIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 23-15-239, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

23-15-239. (1) The commissioners of election of each county, in conjunction with the circuit clerk, shall sponsor and conduct, not less than five (5) days prior to each election, training sessions to instruct managers * * * as to their duties in the proper administration of the election and the operation of the polling place. No manager * * * shall serve in any election unless he has received such instructions once during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the date upon which such election is held; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall prevent the appointment of an alternate manager to fill a vacancy in case of an emergency. The commissioners of election shall train a sufficient number of alternates to serve in the event a manager * * * is unable to serve for any reason.

(2) The board of supervisors, in their discretion, may compensate managers who attend such training sessions. The compensation shall be at a rate of not less than the federal hourly minimum wage nor more than Ten Dollars ($10.00) per hour. Managers shall not be compensated for more than two (2) hours of attendance at the training sessions regardless of the actual amount of time that they attended the training sessions.

(3) The time and location of the training sessions required pursuant to this section shall be announced to the general public by posting a notice thereof at the courthouse and by delivering a copy of the notice to the office of a newspaper having general circulation in the county five (5) days before the date upon which the training session is to be conducted. Persons who will serve as poll watchers for candidates and political parties, as well as members of the general public, shall be allowed to attend the sessions.

SECTION 2. The Attorney General of the State of Mississippi is hereby directed to submit this act, immediately upon approval by the Governor, or upon approval by the Legislature subsequent to a veto, to the Attorney General of the United States or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the date it is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.