Senate Bill 2381

AN ACT TO REQUIRE COUNTY REGISTRARS TO KEEP A LIST OF ALL PERSONS WHO RECEIVE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT FOR THE REASON THAT THEY ARE 65 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AND WHO HAVE EXPRESSED IN WRITING THEIR DESIRE TO RECEIVE BALLOTS FOR FUTURE ELECTIONS; TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSIONERS OF ELECTION TO PURGE SUCH LIST PRIOR TO EACH ELECTION; TO REQUIRE THE REGISTRAR TO SEND A BALLOT TO ALL PERSONS ON THE PURGED LIST BY NO LATER THAN 40 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ELECTION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The registrar of each county shall keep an accurate list of the names and addresses of all persons who receive an absentee ballot for the reason that they are sixty-five (65) years of age or older and who express in writing their desire to receive a ballot pursuant to this section.

(2) Sixty (60) days prior to each election, the registrar shall deliver the list required pursuant to subsection (1) of this section to the commissioners of election who shall examine the list and delete from it the names of all persons listed who are no longer qualified electors of the county. Upon completion of such examination, the commissioners of election shall return the list to the registrar by no later than forty-five (45) days prior to the election.

(3) The registrar shall send a ballot to all persons on the list who are determined by the commissioners of election to be qualified electors pursuant to this section by no later than forty (40) days prior to the election.

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.