MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2005 Regular Session

To: Elections; Constitution

By: Senator(s) Nunnelee

Senate Concurrent Resolution 501

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING TO AMEND THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890 BY CREATING A NEW SECTION TO PROVIDE THAT ELECTION DISTRICTS CREATED BY ANY LEGISLATIVE OR JUDICIAL BODY IN THIS STATE SHALL BE COMPOSED OF WHOLE PRECINCTS AND NO ELECTION DISTRICT SHALL CONTAIN SPLIT PRECINCTS.

     BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That the following amendment to the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 is proposed to the qualified electors of the state:

     Amend the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 to create a new Section to read as follows:

     Section   .  Election districts created by any legislative or judicial body in this state shall be composed of whole precincts and no legislative or judicial body charged with the responsibility of creating election districts for any office may create election districts that contain split precincts.  No election may be conducted in election districts that contain split precincts.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this proposed amendment shall be submitted by the Secretary of State to the qualified electors at an election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November 2006, as provided by Section 273 of the Constitution and by general law.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the explanation of this proposed amendment for the ballot shall read as follows:  "This proposed constitutional amendment provides any election district created by a legislative or judicial body in the state must be composed of whole precincts.  No election may be conducted in election districts with split precincts."

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Attorney General of the State of Mississippi shall submit this resolution, immediately upon adoption by the Legislature of the State of Mississippi, 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.