MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2021 Regular Session

To: Constitution

By: Representative McCarty

House Concurrent Resolution 29

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 140, MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT FOR A SEPARATE RUNOFF ELECTION IN ORDER TO ENABLE THE LEGISLATURE TO ENACT AN INSTANT-RUNOFF SYSTEM OF VOTING TO DETERMINE THE PERSON WITH THE MAJORITY OF VOTES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That the following amendment to the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 be submitted to the qualified electors of the state:

     "Amend Section 140, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read as follows:

     Section 140.  The Governor of the state and all statewide elected officials shall be elected by the people in a general election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November 2023, and on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November in every fourth year thereafter.  The person receiving a majority of the number of votes cast in the election for these offices shall be declared elected.  If no person receives a majority of the votes, then a runoff * * *election shall be held under procedures prescribed by the Legislature in general law."

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this proposed amendment shall be submitted by the Secretary of State to the qualified electors at an election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November 2022, as provided by Section 273 of the Constitution and by general law.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the explanation of this proposed amendment for the ballot shall read as follows: "This amendment removes the requirement for a separate runoff election in order to enable the Legislature to enact an instant-runoff system of voting to determine the person with the majority of votes."