MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Elections; Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency
By: Senator(s) Burton
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-39, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE COUNTY REGISTRAR TO MAIL VOTER REGISTRATION CARDS TO THE MAILING ADDRESS ON THE VOTER APPLICATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 23-15-39, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
23-15-39. (1) Applications for registration as electors of this state, which are sworn to and subscribed before the registrar or deputy registrar authorized by law and which are not made by mail, shall be made upon a form established by rule duly adopted by the Secretary of State.
(2) The boards of supervisors shall make proper allowances for office supplies reasonably necessitated by the registration of county electors.
(3) If the applicant indicates on the application that he resides within the city limits of a city or town in the county of registration, the county registrar shall process the application for registration or changes to the registration as provided by law.
(4) If the applicant indicates on the application that he has previously registered to vote in another county of this state or another state, notice to the voter's previous county of registration in this state shall be provided by the Statewide Elections Management System. If the voter's previous place of registration was in another state, notice shall be provided to the voter's previous state of residence if the Statewide Elections Management System has that capability.
(5) The county registrar shall provide to the person making the application a copy of the application upon which has been written the county voting precinct and municipal voting precinct, if any, in which the person shall vote. Upon entry of the voter registration information into the Statewide Elections Management System, the system shall assign a voter registration number to the person, and the county registrar shall mail the applicant a voter registration card to the mailing address provided on the application.
(6) Any person desiring an application for registration may secure an application from the registrar of the county of which he is a resident and may take the application with him and secure assistance in completing the application from any person of the applicant's choice. It shall be the duty of all registrars to furnish applications for registration to all persons requesting them, and it shall likewise be his duty to furnish aid and assistance in the completing of the application when requested by an applicant. The application for registration shall be sworn to and subscribed before the registrar or deputy registrar at the municipal clerk's office, the county registrar's office or any other location where the applicant is allowed to register to vote. No fee or cost shall be charged the applicant by the registrar for accepting the application or administering the oath or for any other duty imposed by law regarding the registration of electors.
(7) If the person making the application is unable to read or write, for reason of disability or otherwise, he shall not be required to personally complete the application in writing and execute the oath. In such cases, the registrar or deputy registrar shall read to the person the application and oath and the person's answers thereto shall be recorded by the registrar or his deputy. The person shall be registered as an elector if he otherwise meets the requirements to be registered as an elector. The registrar shall record the responses of the person and the recorded responses shall be retained permanently by the registrar. The registrar shall enter the voter registration information into the Statewide Elections Management System and designate the entry as an assisted filing.
(8) The receipt of a copy of the application for registration sent pursuant to Section 23-15-35(2) shall be sufficient to allow the applicant to be registered as an elector of this state, if the application is not challenged.
(9) In any case in which a
municipality expands its corporate boundaries by annexation or redistricts all
or a part of the municipality, the municipal clerk shall within ten (10) days
after the effective date of the annexation , provide the county registrar
with conforming geographic data that is compatible with the Statewide Elections
Management System. The data shall be developed by the municipality's use of a
standardized format specified by the Statewide Elections Management System.
The county registrar shall update the municipal boundary information or
redistricting information into the Statewide Elections Management System. The
Statewide Elections Management System shall update the voter registration
records to include the new municipal electors who have resided within the
annexed area for at least thirty (30) days after annexation and assign the
electors to the municipal voting precincts. The county registrar shall forward
to the municipal clerk written notification of the additions and changes, and
the municipal clerk shall forward to the new municipal electors written
notification of the additions and changes. The Statewide Elections Management
System shall correctly place municipal electors within districts whose
boundaries were altered by any redistricting conducted within the municipality
and assign such electors to the correct municipal voting precincts.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2014.