MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Apportionment and Elections

By: Representative Reynolds

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF ANY POLITICAL PARTY AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT POLITICAL PARTY PRIMARIES TO FORM AN ELECTION INTEGRITY ASSURANCE COMMITTEE FOR EACH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP OF SUCH COMMITTEES; TO PROVIDE THAT IF CERTAIN DUTIES WITH REGARD TO THE CONDUCT OF PRIMARIES ARE NOT PERFORMED IN A TIMELY MANNER THE CIRCUIT OR MUNICIPAL CLERK MAY NOTIFY THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ELECTION INTEGRITY ASSURANCE COMMITTEE OR THE CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF SUCH FAILURE AND CALL UPON THEM TO TAKE IMMEDIATE AND APPROPRIATE ACTION TO INSURE THAT SUCH DUTIES ARE PERFORMED IN ORDER TO INSURE THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE PRIMARY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The state executive committee of any political party authorized to conduct political party primaries shall form an election integrity assurance committee for each congressional district. The state executive committee shall appoint three (3) of its members to each congressional district election integrity assurance committee. The members so appointed shall be residents of the congressional district for which the election integrity assurance committee is formed. The state executive committee shall name a chairman and a secretary from among the members of each committee. The state executive committee shall provide to each circuit and municipal clerk a list of the members of the congressional district integrity assurance committee for the congressional district in which the county or municipality of such clerk is located.

(2) If a county executive committee or a municipal executive committee fails to perform in a timely manner any of the duties specified in Sections 23-15-239, 23-15-265, 23-15-267, 23-15-333, 23-15-335 and 23-15-597 and there is no written agreement in place between the county or municipal executive committee and the county or municipal election commission or the circuit or municipal clerk pursuant to such sections, or there is such an agreement in place and it is not being executed, the circuit or municipal clerk may notify the chairman and secretary of the congressional district election integrity assurance committee or the chairman of the state executive committee of such failure and call upon them to take immediate and appropriate action to insure that such duties are performed in order to secure the orderly conduct of the primary. Such notification may occur on the last day by which the duties are required to be performed or at such time as the circuit or municipal clerk believes such notification is necessary for the orderly administration of the primary.

(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the state executive committee or a congressional district election assurance committee to conduct primaries.

SECTION 2. The Attorney General of the State of Mississippi shall submit this act, immediately upon approval by the Governor, or upon approval by the Legislature subsequent to a veto, to the Attorney General of the United States or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the date it is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.