Senate Bill 2383

(COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF A COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY IN PRIMARY ELECTIONS AND THE COMMISSIONERS OF ELECTION OF A COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY IN OTHER ELECTIONS TO APPOINT NOT MORE THAN TWO STUDENTS AT EACH PRECINCT TO SERVE AS STUDENT INTERNS DURING ELECTIONS; TO SET CERTAIN MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR SUCH INTERNS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE DUTIES OF SUCH INTERNS; TO REQUIRE STUDENT INTERNS TO RECEIVE CERTAIN TRAINING; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The officials in charge of the election in a county or municipality may, in their discretion, appoint not more than two (2) students for each precinct to serve as student interns during elections. To be appointed a student intern a student must:

(a) Be recommended by a principal or other school official, or the person responsible for the student's legitimate home instruction program;

(b) Be at least sixteen (16) years of age at the time of the election for which the appointment is made;

(d) Be enrolled in a public high school, an accredited private high school or a legitimate home instruction program and be classified as a junior or senior or its equivalent, or be enrolled in a junior college or a college or university; and

(e) Meet any additional qualifications considered necessary by the officials in charge of the election in the county or municipality.

(2) (a) The duties of the student interns appointed pursuant to this section shall be determined by the officials in charge of the election in the county or municipality; however, such duties shall not include:

(i) Determining the qualifications of a voter in case a voter is challenged;

(ii) The discharge of any duties related to affidavit ballots;

(iii) The operation and maintenance of any voting equipment;

(iv) Any duties normally assigned to a bailiff; or

(v) The tallying of votes.

(b) Student interns shall at all times be under the supervision of the managers and clerks of the election while performing their duties at precincts.

(3) Before performing any duties, student interns shall attend all required training for managers and clerks of the county or municipality and any additional training considered necessary by the officials in charge of the election in the county or municipality.

(4) As used in this section "officials in charge of the election" means the county or municipal executive committee, as appropriate, in primary elections and the county or municipal election commission, as appropriate, in all other elections.

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.