MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2026 Regular Session
To: County Affairs; Apportionment and Elections
By: Representative Clark
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-227, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY POLL MANAGER OR OTHER PERSON WHO WAS PRESENT AT THE VOTING PRECINCT AND WAS REQUIRED TO RETURN TO THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE AFTER THE POLLS CLOSE ON THE DAY OF THE ELECTION; 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 Twenty-five Dollars ($125.00) for each election;
however, the board of supervisors may, in its discretion, pay the poll managers
an additional amount not to exceed Seventy-five Dollars ($75.00) per election.
(2) The poll manager who * * * carries to the place of
voting, away from the courthouse, the official ballots, ballot boxes, pollbooks
and other necessities, shall be allowed up to Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) for
each voting precinct for * * *so doing that service. The poll manager who acts as
returning officer shall be allowed up to Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) 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. If the registrar requires any poll manager or other person who was
present at the voting precinct to return to the registrar's office after the
polls close on the day of the election, then that person 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 to the registrar's office.
(3) The compensation authorized in this section shall be allowed by the board of supervisors, and shall be payable out of the county treasury.
(4) 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.
(5) 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. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.