MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Elections

By: Senator(s) Johnson (19th), White (29th), Canon, King

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT AT THE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER 2003, VOTERS MAY EXPRESS THEIR PREFERENCE REGARDING THE CONTINUED USE OF THE CURRENT STATE FLAG; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) At the general election to be held in November 2003, there shall be printed on the ballot the following:

The qualified electors may indicate their preference by putting a cross (x) or check (b ) mark opposite the words that express their preference.

The preference of a majority of the qualified electors shall be a mandate to the Legislature to take whatever steps are necessary to follow such preference.

(2) The county election commissioners shall transmit to the Secretary of State, in the same manner as the vote for state officers is transmitted, a statement of the total number of votes cast for each proposition. The Secretary of State shall tabulate such returns and certify the results to the Governor and to each house of the Legislature.

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.