MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Apportionment and Elections

By: Representative Denny

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-17-21, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES REQUIRED ON AN INITIATIVE PETITION PROPOSING TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION IN ORDER TO QUALIFY THE INITIATIVE MEASURE FOR PLACEMENT ON THE ELECTION BALLOT SHALL BE NOT LESS THAN SIX PERCENT OF THE VOTES FOR ALL CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR IN THE LAST GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 23-17-21, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

23-17-21. Before a person may file a petition with the Secretary of State, the petition must be certified by the circuit clerk of each county in which the petition was circulated. The circuit clerk shall certify the signatures of qualified electors of that county and shall state the total number of qualified electors signing the petition in that county. The circuit clerk shall verify the name of each qualified elector signing on each petition. A circuit clerk may not receive any fee, salary or compensation from any private person or private legal entity for the clerk's duties in certifying an initiative petition. When the person proposing any initiative measure has secured upon the petition a number of signatures of qualified electors equal to or exceeding six percent (6%) of the votes for all candidates for Governor in the last gubernatorial election, and such signatures have been certified by the circuit clerks of the various counties, he may submit the petition to the Secretary of State for filing. The Secretary of State shall collect a fee of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) from the person filing the petition to pay part of the administrative and publication costs.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the date that House Concurrent Resolution No.____, 1999 Regular Session, is ratified by the electorate.