MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2024 Regular Session

To: Apportionment and Elections

By: Representative Hurst

House Bill 1425

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 23-15-231 AND 23-15-235, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A POLL MANAGER SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO BE A QUALIFIED ELECTOR OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE POLLING PLACE IS LOCATED, BUT JUST A QUALIFIED ELECTOR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 23-15-231, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     23-15-231.  Before every election, the election commissioners shall appoint three (3) persons for each voting precinct to be poll managers, one (1) of whom shall be designated by the election commissioners as election bailiff. For general and special elections, the poll managers shall not all be of the same political party if suitable persons of different political parties can be found in the district.  If any person appointed shall fail to attend and serve, the poll managers present, if any, may designate someone to fill his or her place; and if the election commissioners fail to make the appointments or in case of the failure of all those appointed to attend and serve, any three (3) qualified electors present when the polls should be opened may act as poll managers.  Provided, however, any person appointed to be poll manager or act as poll manager shall be a qualified elector * * * of the county in which the polling place is located.

     SECTION 2.  Section 23-15-235, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     23-15-235.  In addition to the poll managers appointed pursuant to Section 23-15-231, for the first five hundred (500) registered voters in each voting precinct, the election commissioners may, in their discretion, appoint not more than three (3) persons to serve as poll managers of the election.  The election commissioners may, in their discretion, appoint additional persons to serve as poll managers for each one thousand (1,000) registered voters or fraction thereof in each voting precinct above the first five hundred (500), as determined necessary by the election commissioners and approved by the board of supervisors.  Any person appointed as poll manager shall be a qualified elector * * * of the county in which the voting precinct is located.

     SECTION 3.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.

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