MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2023 Regular Session
To: Apportionment and Elections; County Affairs
By: Representatives Wallace, Byrd, Summers, Karriem
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-227, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE POLL MANAGERS COMPENSATION TO ONE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS; TO INCREASE THE COMPENSATION OF THE POLL MANAGERS WHO CARRY AND RETURN THE BALLOTS TO THIRTY DOLLARS; TO MAKE A MINOR, NONSUBSTANTIVE CHANGE; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-229, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO MAKE A MINOR, NONSUBSTANTIVE CHANGE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 23-15-227, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
23-15-227. (1) The poll
managers shall be each entitled to * * * One Hundred
Fifty Dollars ($150.00) for each election; however, the board of
supervisors may, in its discretion, pay the poll managers an additional amount
not to exceed Fifty Dollars ($50.00) per election.
* * *
( * * *2) The poll manager who shall carry to
the place of voting, away from the courthouse, the official ballots, ballot
boxes, pollbooks and other necessities, shall be allowed * * * Thirty Dollars ($30.00)
for each voting precinct for so doing. The poll manager who acts as returning
officer shall be allowed * * *Ten Dollars ($10.00) Thirty Dollars ($30.00) for each
voting precinct for that service. If a person who performs the duties
described in this subsection uses a privately owned motor vehicle to perform
them, he or she shall receive for each mile actually and necessarily traveled
in excess of ten (10) miles, the mileage reimbursement rate allowable to
federal employees for the use of a privately owned vehicle while on official
travel.
(4) The compensation authorized in this section shall be allowed by the board of supervisors, and shall be payable out of the county treasury; provided, however, that any compensation for additional pandemic pay due to a public health emergency may be payable from federal funds available for such purpose, or a combination of both county and federal funding sources.
(5) The compensation provided in this section shall constitute payment in full for the services rendered by the persons named for any election, whether there be one (1) election or issue voted upon, or more than one (1) election or issue voted upon at the same time.
(6) The Secretary of State shall promulgate rules and regulations as are necessary to ensure the safety of poll managers, election commissioners, electors and their families at the voting precincts during a COVID-19 public health risk or other public health risk declared by the Governor where the appearance of such persons may result in exposure to such risk or the exposure of other persons to such risk.
SECTION 2. Section 23-15-229, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
23-15-229. The compensation
for poll managers and other workers in the polling places of a municipality
shall be the same as the compensation paid by the county for those services;
provided, however, that the governing authorities of a municipality shall not
be required to pay any additional compensation authorized by the board of
supervisors. The governing authorities of a municipality may, in their
discretion, pay clerks and poll managers in the polling places of the municipality
an additional amount of compensation not to exceed Fifty Dollars ($50.00) per
election * * *. Such compensation shall be
payable out of the county general fund, and may be payable from federal funds
available for such purpose, or a combination of both funding sources.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.