Senate Bill 2298

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS AND CIRCUIT CLERKS OR COUNTY REGISTRARS TO APPROVE THE USE OF DIRECT RECORDING ELECTRONIC VOTING UNITS AND OPTICAL MARK READING EQUIPMENT FOR ABSENTEE VOTING; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section and with the approval of the board of supervisors and the circuit clerk or county registrar, Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) voting units and Optical Mark Reading (OMR) equipment may be used to allow absentee electors to vote during the absentee voting period.

(2) The Secretary of State shall promulgate rules and regulations as necessary to accomplish the purpose of this act, including the following:

(a) The instructions and procedures for the safe and efficient use of DRE voting units and OMR equipment for absentee voting; and

(b) The process for examining, counting and rejecting ballots in elections in which DRE voting units and OMR equipment are used to accept ballots during the absentee voting period.

(3) Absentee electors shall have the right to vote by paper ballot in elections in which a DRE voting unit or OMR equipment is used during the absentee voting period.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2018.