MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2016 Regular Session

To: Apportionment and Elections

By: Representative Denny

House Bill 799

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-283, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT CHANGES TO PRECINCT BOUNDARIES UNTIL THE LEGISLATURE COMPLETES ITS REDISTRICTING PLAN FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATE DISTRICTS; TO AMEND SECTIONS 23-15-281 AND 23-15-285, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO MAKE NON-SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES; TO AMEND SECTION 19-3-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 5-3-123, 9-4-5, 21-8-7, 21-9-15, 23-15-39, 23-15-1037 AND 37-5-18, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 23-15-283, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     23-15-283.  (1)  The board of supervisors shall have power to alter the boundaries of the supervisors districts, voting precincts and the voting place therein.  If the board of supervisors orders a change in the boundaries, they shall notify the commissioners of election, who shall at once cause the registration books of voting precincts affected by the order to be changed to conform to the change so as to contain only the names of the qualified electors in the voting precincts as made by the change of boundaries.  Upon the order of change in the boundaries of any voting precinct or the voting place therein, the board of supervisors shall notify the Office of the Secretary of State and provide the Office of the Secretary of State a legal description and a map of any boundary change.  No change shall be implemented or enforced until the requirements of this section have been met.

(2)  Precinct boundary changes affected by the authority of this section or of any other provision of law shall not be implemented during any decade after the last day of September of the year ending in eight (8).  Precinct boundaries in force and effect at such time shall remain in effect and unalterable until the Mississippi Legislature has adopted plans for redistricting the House of Representatives and Senate districts.  Following the adoption of the redistricting plan, the boards of supervisors shall alter precinct boundaries by the authority provided in this section. 

     SECTION 2.  Section 23-15-281, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     23-15-281.  Each county shall be divided into supervisors districts, which shall be the same as those for the election of members of the board of supervisors, and may be subdivided thereafter into voting precincts; and there shall be only one (1) voting place in each voting precinct, but the supervisors districts, voting precincts and voting places as now fixed in each county shall remain until altered.  * * *Provided, however, that such boundaries, if altered, shall conform to visible natural or artificial boundaries such as streets, highways, railroads, rivers, lakes, bayous or other obvious lines of demarcation except county lines and municipal corporate limits. The board of supervisors, no later than April 1, 1987, shall notify the office of the Secretary of State of the boundary of each supervisors district and voting precinct as then fixed and shall provide said office a legal description and a map of each supervisors district and voting precinct and shall indicate the voting place in each such district.

     SECTION 3.  Section 23-15-285, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     23-15-285.  The board of supervisors shall cause an entry to be made on the minutes of the board at some meeting, as early as convenient, defining the boundaries of the several supervisors districts and voting precincts in the county, and designating the voting place in each voting precinct; and as soon as practicable after any change is made in any supervisors district, voting precinct or any voting place, the board of supervisors shall cause such change to be entered on the minutes of the board in such manner as to be easily understood.  * * *The changed boundaries shall conform to visible natural or artificial boundaries such as streets, highways, railroads, rivers, lakes, bayous or other obvious lines of demarcation, with the exception of county lines and municipal corporate limits. Precinct boundaries may be changed only during the times provided in Section 23-15-283.  

     No voting precinct shall have more than five hundred (500) qualified electors residing in its boundaries.  Subject to the provisions of this section, each board of supervisors of the various counties of this state shall as soon as practical after January 1, 1987, alter or change the boundaries of the various voting precincts to comply herewith and shall from time to time make such changes in the boundaries of voting precincts so that there shall never be more than five hundred (500) qualified electors within the boundaries of the various voting precincts of this state; provided further, this limitation shall not apply to voting precincts that are so divided, alphabetically or otherwise, so as to have less than five hundred (500) qualified electors in any one (1) box within a voting precinct.  However, the limitation of five hundred (500) qualified electors to the voting precinct shall not apply to voting precincts in which voting machines are used at all elections held in that voting precinct.  No change in any supervisors district or voting precinct shall take effect less than thirty (30) days before the qualifying deadline for the office of county supervisor. * * *Any change in any boundary of a supervisors district or voting precinct that is approved under the Voting Rights Act of 1965 less than thirty (30) days before such qualifying deadline shall be effective only for an election for county supervisor held in a year following the year in which such change is approved under the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  Provided, however, that, with the exception of county lines and municipal corporate limits, such altered boundaries shall conform to visible natural or artificial boundaries such as streets, highways, railroads, rivers, lakes, bayous or other obvious lines of demarcation.

     SECTION 4.  Section 19-3-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     19-3-1.  Each county shall be divided into five (5) districts, with due regard to equality of population and convenience of situation for the election of members of the boards of supervisors, but the districts as now existing shall continue until changed.  The qualified electors of each district shall elect, at the next general election, and every four (4) years thereafter, in their districts one (1) member of the board of supervisors.  Subject to the provisions of Section 23-15-285, the board, by a three-fifths (3/5) vote of all members elected, may change the districts, the boundaries to be entered at large in the minutes of the proceedings of the board. * * *Provided, however, that such changed boundaries shall in as far as possible conform as to natural, visible artificial boundaries, such as streets, highways, railroads, rivers, lakes, bayous or other obvious lines of demarcation, except county lines and municipal corporate limits.

     If the boundaries of the districts are changed by order of the board of supervisors as provided in this section, the order shall be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the county once each week for three (3) consecutive weeks.

     SECTION 5.  Section 5-3-123, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

     5-3-123.  The members of the committee shall draw a plan to redistrict, according to constitutional standards, the United States congressional districts for the State of Mississippi no later than thirty (30) days preceding the convening of the next regular session of the Legislature after the results of the 1980 decennial census are published and every ten (10) years thereafter.

     Provided, however, the committee shall not be required to present a plan to the Governor and to the Legislature prior to four (4) months after the publication of census data.

     SECTION 6.  Section 9-4-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

     9-4-5.  (1)  The term of office of judges of the Court of Appeals shall be eight (8) years.  An election shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 1994, to elect the ten (10) judges of the Court of Appeals, two (2) from each congressional district; provided, however, judges of the Court of Appeals who are elected to take office after the first Monday of January 2002, shall be elected from the Court of Appeals Districts described in subsection (5) of this section.  The judges of the Court of Appeals shall begin service on the first Monday of January 1995.

     (2)  (a)  In order to provide that the offices of not more than a majority of the judges of said court shall become vacant at any one (1) time, the terms of office of six (6) of the judges first to be elected shall expire in less than eight (8) years.  For the purpose of all elections of members of the court, each of the ten (10) judges of the Court of Appeals shall be considered a separate office.  The two (2) offices in each of the five (5) districts shall be designated Position Number 1 and Position Number 2, and in qualifying for office as a candidate for any office of judge of the Court of Appeals each candidate shall state the position number of the office to which he aspires and the election ballots shall so indicate.

              (i)  In Congressional District Number 1, the judge of the Court of Appeals for Position Number 1 shall be that office for which the term ends January 1, 1999, and the judge of the Court of Appeals for Position Number 2 shall be that office for which the term ends January 1, 2003.

              (ii)  In Congressional District Number 2, the judge of the Court of Appeals for Position Number 1 shall be that office for which the term ends on January 1, 2003, and the judge of the Court of Appeals for Position Number 2 shall be that office for which the term ends January 1, 2001.

              (iii)  In Congressional District Number 3, the judge of the Court of Appeals for Position Number 1 shall be that office for which the term ends on January 1, 2001, and the judge of the Court of Appeals for Position Number 2 shall be that office for which the term ends January 1, 1999.

              (iv)  In Congressional District Number 4, the judge of the Court of Appeals for Position Number 1 shall be that office for which the term ends on January 1, 1999, and the judge of the Court of Appeals for Position Number 2 shall be that office for which the term ends January 1, 2003.

              (v)  In Congressional District Number 5, the judge of the Court of Appeals for Position Number 1 shall be that office for which the term ends on January 1, 2003, and the judge of the Court of Appeals for Position Number 2 shall be that office for which the term ends January 1, 2001.

          (b)  The laws regulating the general elections shall apply to and govern the elections of judges of the Court of Appeals except as otherwise provided in Sections 23-15-974 through 23-15-985.

          (c)  In the year prior to the expiration of the term of an incumbent, and likewise each eighth year thereafter, an election shall be held in the manner provided in this section in the district from which the incumbent Court of Appeals judge was elected at which there shall be elected a successor to the incumbent, whose term of office shall thereafter begin on the first Monday of January of the year in which the term of the incumbent he succeeds expires.

     (3)  No person shall be eligible for the office of judge of the Court of Appeals who has not attained the age of thirty (30) years at the time of his election and who has not been a practicing attorney and citizen of the state for five (5) years immediately preceding such election.

     (4)  Any vacancy on the Court of Appeals shall be filled by appointment of the Governor for that portion of the unexpired term prior to the election to fill the remainder of said term according to provisions of Section 23-15-849, Mississippi Code of 1972.

     (5)  (a)  The State of Mississippi is hereby divided into five (5) Court of Appeals Districts as follows:

FIRST DISTRICT.  The First Court of Appeals District shall be composed of the following counties and portions of counties: Alcorn, Benton, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Choctaw, DeSoto, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Marshall, Monroe, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Union, Webster and Yalobusha; in Grenada County the precincts of Providence, Mt. Nebo, Hardy and Pea Ridge; in Montgomery County the precincts of North Winona, Lodi, Stewart, Nations and Poplar Creek; in Panola County the precincts of East Sardis, South Curtis, Tocowa, Pope, Courtland, Cole's Point, North Springport, South Springport, Eureka, Williamson, East Batesville 4, West Batesville 4, Fern Hill, North Batesville A, East Batesville 5 and West Batesville 5; and in Tallahatchie County the precincts of Teasdale, Enid, Springhill, Charleston Beat 1, Charleston Beat 2, Charleston Beat 3, Paynes, Leverette, Cascilla, Murphreesboro and Rosebloom.

SECOND DISTRICT.  The Second Court of Appeals District shall be composed of the following counties and portions of counties: Bolivar, Carroll, Claiborne, Coahoma, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Jefferson, Leflore, Quitman, Sharkey, Sunflower, Tunica, Warren, Washington and Yazoo; in Attala County the precincts of Northeast, Hesterville, Possomneck, North Central, McAdams, Newport, Sallis and Southwest; that portion of Grenada County not included in the First Court of Appeals District; in Hinds County Precincts 11, 12, 13, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30, 40, 41, 83, 84 and 85, and the precincts of Bolton, Brownsville, Cayuga, Chapel Hill, Cynthia, Edwards, Learned, Pine Haven, Pocahontas, St. Thomas, Tinnin, Utica 1 and Utica 2; in Leake County the precincts of Conway, West Carthage, Wiggins, Thomastown and Ofahoma; in Madison County the precincts of Farmhaven, Canton Precinct 2, Canton Precinct 3, Cameron Street, Canton Precinct 6, Bear Creek, Gluckstadt, Smith School, Magnolia Heights, Flora, Virlilia, Canton Precinct 5, Cameron, Couparle, Camden, Sharon, Canton Precinct 1 and Canton Precinct 4; that portion of Montgomery County not included in the First Court of Appeals District; that portion of Panola County not included in the First Court of Appeals District; and that portion of Tallahatchie County not included in the First Court of Appeals District.

THIRD DISTRICT.  The Third Court of Appeals District shall be composed of the following counties and portions of counties: Clarke, Clay, Jasper, Kemper, Lauderdale, Lowndes, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Rankin, Scott, Smith and Winston; that portion of Attala County not included in the Second Court of Appeals District; in Jones County the precincts of Northwest High School, Shady Grove, Sharon, Erata, Glade, Myrick School, Northeast High School, Rustin, Sandersville Civic Center, Tuckers, Antioch and Landrum; that portion of Leake County not included in the Second Court of Appeals District; that portion of Madison County not included in the Second Court of Appeals District; and in Wayne County the precincts of Big Rock, Yellow Creek, Hiwannee, Diamond, Chaparral, Matherville, Coit and Eucutta.

FOURTH DISTRICT.  The Fourth Court of Appeals District shall be composed of the following counties and portions of counties: Adams, Amite, Copiah, Covington, Franklin, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marion, Pike, Simpson, Walthall and Wilkinson; that portion of Hinds County not included in the Second Court of Appeals District; and that portion of Jones county not included in the Third Court of Appeals District.

FIFTH DISTRICT.  The Fifth Court of Appeals District shall be composed of the following counties and portions of counties: Forrest, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Lamar, Pearl River, Perry and Stone; and that portion of Wayne County not included in the Third Court of Appeals District.

          (b)  The boundaries of the Court of Appeals Districts described in paragraph (a) of this subsection shall be the boundaries of the counties and precincts listed in paragraph (a) of this subsection as such boundaries existed on October 1, 1990.

     SECTION 7.  Section 21-8-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

     21-8-7.  (1)  Each municipality operating under the mayor-council form of government shall be governed by an elected council and an elected mayor.  Other officers and employees shall be duly appointed pursuant to this chapter, general law or ordinance.

     (2)  Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4) of this section, the mayor and council members shall be elected by the voters of the municipality at a regular municipal election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June as provided in Section 21-11-7, and shall serve for a term of four (4) years beginning on the first day of July next following the election that is not on a weekend.

     (3)  The terms of the initial mayor and council members shall commence at the expiration of the terms of office of the elected officials of the municipality serving at the time of adoption of the mayor-council form.

     (4)  (a)  The council shall consist of five (5), seven (7) or nine (9) members.  In the event there are five (5) council members, the municipality shall be divided into either five (5) or four (4) wards.  In the event there are seven (7) council members, the municipality shall be divided into either seven (7), six (6) or five (5) wards.  In the event there are nine (9) council members, the municipality shall be divided into seven (7) or nine (9) wards.  If the municipality is divided into fewer wards than it has council members, the other council member or members shall be elected from the municipality at large.  The total number of council members and the number of council members elected from wards shall be established by the petition or petitions presented pursuant to Section 21-8-3.  One (1) council member shall be elected from each ward by the voters of that ward.  Council members elected to represent wards must be residents of their wards at the time of qualification for election, and any council member who removes the member's residence from the municipality or from the ward from which elected shall vacate that office.  However, any candidate for council member who is properly qualified as a candidate under applicable law shall be deemed to be qualified as a candidate in whatever ward the member resides if the ward has changed after the council has redistricted the municipality as provided in paragraph (c)(ii) of this subsection (4), and if the wards have been so changed, any person may qualify as a candidate for council member, using the person's existing residence or by changing the person's residence, not less than fifteen (15) days before the first party primary or special party primary, as the case may be, notwithstanding any other residency or qualification requirements to the contrary.

          (b)  The council or board existing at the time of the adoption of the mayor-council form of government shall designate the geographical boundaries of the wards within one hundred twenty (120) days after the election in which the mayor-council form of government is selected.  In designating the geographical boundaries of the wards, each ward shall contain, as nearly as possible, the population factor obtained by dividing the municipality's population as shown by the most recent decennial census by the number of wards into which the municipality is to be divided.

          (c)  (i)  It shall be the mandatory duty of the council to redistrict the municipality by ordinance, which ordinance may not be vetoed by the mayor, within six (6) months after the official publication by the United States of the population of the municipality as enumerated in each decennial census, and within six (6) months after the effective date of any expansion of municipal boundaries; however, if the publication of the most recent decennial census or effective date of an expansion of the municipal boundaries occurs six (6) months or more before the first party primary of a general municipal election, then the council shall redistrict the municipality by ordinance not less than sixty (60) days before the first party primary.

              (ii)  If the publication of the most recent decennial census occurs less than six (6) months before the first primary of a general municipal election, the election shall be held with regard to the existing defined wards; reapportioned wards based on the census shall not serve as the basis for representation until the next regularly scheduled election in which council members shall be elected.

          (d)  If annexation of additional territory into the municipal corporate limits of the municipality occurs less than six (6) months before the first party primary of a general municipal election, the council shall, by ordinance adopted within three (3) days of the effective date of the annexation, assign the annexed territory to an adjacent ward or wards so as to maintain as nearly as possible substantial equality of population between wards; any subsequent redistricting of the municipality by ordinance, as required by this chapter, shall not serve as the basis for representation until the next regularly scheduled election for municipal council members.

     (5)  Vacancies occurring in the council shall be filled as provided in Section 23-15-857.

     (6)  The mayor shall maintain an office at the city hall.  The council members shall not maintain individual offices at the city hall; however, in a municipality having a population of one hundred thousand (100,000) and above according to the latest federal decennial census, council members may have individual offices in the city hall.  Clerical work of council members in the performance of the duties of their office shall be performed by municipal employees or at municipal expense, and council members shall be reimbursed for the reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of the duties of their office.

     SECTION 8.  Section 21-9-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

     21-9-15.  (1)  (a)  The legislative power of any city in which the council-manager plan of government is in effect under this chapter shall be vested in a council consisting of a mayor and five (5) councilmen. 

          (b)  Any city with a larger or smaller number of councilmen, prior to September 30, 1962, may retain this larger or smaller number of councilmen or may adopt the council size of five (5) as prescribed herein.  This option shall be exercised through the enactment of an appropriate ordinance by the municipal governing body prior to the election to adopt the council-manager plan of government.  In the event the council fails to exercise this option, the council shall consist of five (5) councilmen. 

          (c)  At the next regular municipal election which takes place after the adoption of the council-manager form of government, the mayor shall be elected at large by the voters of the entire city.  Also, the councilmen shall be elected at large by the voters of the entire city to represent a city-wide district, or each of four (4) councilmen may be elected from a ward to represent such ward and one (1) councilman may be elected to represent a city-wide district.  This option shall be exercised by an appropriate ordinance enacted by the city governing body prior to the election to adopt the council-manager plan of government.  In the event the council fails to exercise this option, the councilmen shall be elected at large to represent the city-wide district.  In its discretion at any time after adoption and implementation of the council-manager plan of government the council may provide for the election of councilmen by wards as provided herein, which shall become effective at the next regularly scheduled election for city councilmen. 

          (d)  Councilmen elected to represent wards must be residents of their wards; and in cities having more or fewer than five (5) councilmen, prior to September 30, 1962, the city governing body shall determine the number of councilmen to represent the wards and the number of councilmen to represent the city-wide district. 

          (e)  The council of any municipality having a population exceeding forty-five thousand (45,000) inhabitants according to the 1970 decennial census which is situated in a Class 1 county bordering on the State of Alabama and which is governed by a council-manager plan of government on January 1, 1977 may, in its discretion, adopt an ordinance to require the election of four (4) of the five (5) council members from wards and not from the city at large.  The four (4) council members shall be elected one (1) each from the wards in which they reside in the municipality, and shall be elected only by the registered voters residing within the ward in which the council member resides.  The mayor and fifth council member may continue to be elected from the city at large.  Any council member who shall remove his residence from the ward from which he was elected shall, by operation of law, vacate his seat on the council. 

          After publication of the population of the municipality according to the 1980 decennial census, the governing authorities of the municipality shall designate the geographical boundaries of new wards as provided in this subparagraph.  Each ward shall contain as nearly as possible the population factor obtained by dividing by four (4) the city's population as shown by the 1980 and each most recent decennial census thereafter.  It shall be the mandatory duty of the council to redistrict the city by ordinance, which ordinance may not be vetoed by the mayor, within six (6) months after the official publication by the United States of the population of the city as enumerated in each decennial census, and within six (6) months after the effective date of any expansion of municipal boundaries; provided, however, if the publication of the most recent decennial census or effective date of an expansion of the municipal boundaries occurs six (6) months or more prior to the first primary of a general municipal election, then the council shall redistrict the city by ordinance within at least sixty (60) days of such first primary.  If the publication of the most recent decennial census occurs less than six (6) months prior to the first primary of a general municipal election, the election shall be held with regard to currently defined wards; and reapportioned wards based on the census shall not serve as the basis for representation until the next regularly scheduled election in which council members shall be elected.  If annexation of additional territory into the municipal corporate limits of the city shall occur less than six (6) months prior to the first primary of a general municipal election, the city council shall, by ordinance adopted within three (3) days of the effective date of such annexation, assign such annexed territory to an adjacent ward or wards so as to maintain as nearly as possible substantial equality of population between wards.  Any subsequent redistricting of the city by ordinance as required by this section shall not serve as the basis for representation until the next regularly scheduled election for city councilmen. 

     (2)  However, in any municipality situated in a Class 1 county bordering on the Mississippi Sound and the State of Alabama, traversed by U.S.  Highway 90, the legislative power of such municipality in which the council-manager plan of government is in effect shall be vested in a council consisting of a mayor and six (6) councilmen.  In the next regular municipal election in such municipality, the mayor shall be elected at large by the voters of the entire municipality.  Also, the councilmen shall be elected at large by the voters of the entire municipality to represent a municipality-wide district, or each of five (5) councilmen may be elected from one (1) of five (5) wards to represent said ward and one (1) councilman shall be elected to represent a municipality-wide district.  This option as to wards shall be exercised by an appropriate ordinance enacted by the municipal governing body.  In the event the council fails to exercise this option, the councilmen shall be elected at large to represent the municipality-wide district.  Councilmen elected to represent wards must be residents of their wards. 

     The method of electing the mayor and councilmen shall be the same as otherwise provided by law except as provided in this chapter.  The mayor and councilmen elected hereunder shall hold office for a term of four (4) years and until their successors are elected and qualified.  No person shall be eligible to the office of mayor or councilman unless he is a qualified elector of such city. 

     (3)  (a)  In the event a city with a population of one hundred thousand (100,000) or more inhabitants according to the last decennial census adopts the council-manager form of government, the legislative power of said city shall be vested in a council consisting of a mayor and eight (8) councilmen. 

          (b)  At the next regular municipal election which takes place after the adoption of the council-manager form of government, the mayor shall be elected at large by the voters of the entire municipality.  The municipality shall be divided into five (5) wards with one (1) councilman to be elected from each ward by the voters of that ward, and three (3) councilmen to be elected from the municipality at large.  Councilmen elected to represent wards must be residents of their wards at the time of qualification for election, and any councilman who removes his residence from the city or from the ward from which he was elected shall vacate his office. 

          (c)  It shall be the duty of the municipal governing body existing at the time of the adoption of the council-manager form of government to designate the geographical boundaries of the five (5) wards within sixty (60) days after the election in which the council-manager form is selected.  In designating the geographical boundaries of the five (5) wards, each ward shall contain as nearly as possible the population factor obtained by dividing by five (5) the city's population as shown by the most recent decennial census.  It shall be the mandatory duty of the council to redistrict the city by ordinance, which ordinance may not be vetoed by the mayor, within six (6) months after the official publication by the United States of the population of the city as enumerated in each decennial census, and within six (6) months after the effective date of any expansion of municipal boundaries; however, if the publication of the most recent decennial census or effective date of an expansion of the municipal boundaries occurs six (6) months or more prior to the first primary of a general municipal election, then the council shall redistrict the city by ordinance within at least sixty (60) days of such first primary.  If the publication of the most recent decennial census occurs less than six (6) months prior to the first primary of a general municipal election, the election shall be held with regard to currently defined wards; and reapportioned wards based on the census shall not serve as the basis for representation until the next regularly scheduled election in which city councilmen shall be elected.  If annexation of additional territory into the municipal corporate limits of the city shall occur less than six (6) months prior to the first primary of a general municipal election, the city council shall, by ordinance adopted within three (3) days of the effective date of such annexation, assign such annexed territory to an adjacent ward or wards so as to maintain as nearly as possible substantial equality of population between wards; any subsequent redistricting of the city by ordinance as required by this section shall not serve as the basis for representation until the next regularly scheduled election for city councilmen. 

     (4)  The method of electing the mayor and councilmen shall be the same as otherwise provided by law, except as provided in this chapter.  The mayor and councilmen elected hereunder shall hold office for a term of four (4) years and until their successors are elected and qualified.  No person shall be eligible to the office of mayor or councilman unless he is a qualified elector of such city.

     SECTION 9.  Section 23-15-39, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward 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.

     (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 or after preclearance of the redistricting plan under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, 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 10.  Section 23-15-1037, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

     23-15-1037.  (1)  The State of Mississippi is hereby divided into five (5) congressional districts below:

     FIRST DISTRICT.  The First Congressional District shall be composed of the following counties and portions of counties:

Alcorn, Benton, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Choctaw, DeSoto, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Marshall, Monroe, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Union, Webster, Yalobusha; in Grenada County the precincts of Providence, Mt.  Nebo, Hardy and Pea Ridge; in Montgomery County the precincts of North Winona, Lodi, Stewart, Nations and Poplar Creek; in Oktibbeha County, the precincts of Double Springs, Maben and Sturgis; in Panola County the precincts of East Sardis, South Curtis, Tocowa, Pope, Courtland, Cole's Point, North Springport, South Springport, Eureka, Williamson, East Batesville 4, West Batesville 4, Fern Hill, North Batesville A, East Batesville 5 and West Batesville 5; and in Tallahatchie County the precincts of Teasdale, Enid, Springhill, Charleston Beat 1, Charleston Beat 2, Charleston Beat 3, Paynes, Leverette, Cascilla, Murphreesboro and Rosebloom. 

     SECOND DISTRICT.  The Second Congressional District shall be composed of the following counties and portions of counties:

Bolivar, Carroll, Claiborne, Coahoma, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Jefferson, Leflore, Quitman, Sharkey, Sunflower, Tunica, Warren, Washington, Yazoo; in Attala County the precincts of Northeast, Hesterville, Possomneck, North Central, McAdams, Newport, Sallis and Southwest; that portion of Grenada County not included in the First Congressional District; in Hinds County Precincts 11, 12, 13, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30, 40, 41, 83, 84 and 85, and the precincts of Bolton, Brownsville, Cayuga, Chapel Hill, Cynthia, Edwards, Learned, Pine Haven, Pocahontas, St.  Thomas, Tinnin, Utica 1 and Utica 2; in Leake County the precincts of Conway, West Carthage, Wiggins, Thomastown and Ofahoma; in Madison County the precincts of Farmhaven, Canton Precinct 2, Canton Precinct 3, Cameron Street, Canton Precinct 6, Bear Creek, Gluckstadt, Smith School, Magnolia Heights, Flora, Virlilia, Canton Precinct 5, Cameron, Couparle, Camden, Sharon, Canton Precinct 1 and Canton Precinct 4; that portion of Montgomery County not included in the First Congressional District; that portion of Panola County not included in the First Congressional District; and that portion of Tallahatchie County not included in the First Congressional District. 

     THIRD DISTRICT.  The Third Congressional District shall be composed of the following counties and portions of counties:

Clarke, Clay, Jasper, Kemper, Lauderdale, Lowndes, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Rankin, Scott, Smith, Winston; that portion of Attala County not included in the Second Congressional District; in Jones County the precincts of Northwest High School, Shady Grove, Sharon, Erata, Glade, Myrick School, Northeast High School, Rustin, Sandersville Civic Center, Tuckers, Antioch and Landrum; that portion of Leake County not included in the Second Congressional District; that portion of Madison County not included in the Second Congressional District; that portion of Oktibbeha County not included in the First Congressional District; and in Wayne County the precincts of Big Rock, Yellow Creek, Hiwannee, Diamond, Chaparral, Matherville, Coit and Eucutta. 

     FOURTH DISTRICT.  The Fourth Congressional District shall be composed of the following counties and portions of counties: Adams, Amite, Copiah, Covington, Franklin, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marion, Pike, Simpson, Walthall, Wilkinson; that portion of Hinds County not included in the Second Congressional District; and that portion of Jones county not included in the Third Congressional District. 

     FIFTH DISTRICT.  The Fifth Congressional District shall be composed of the following counties and portions of counties: Forrest, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Lamar, Pearl River, Perry, Stone; and that portion of Wayne County not included in the Third Congressional District. 

     (2)  The boundaries of the congressional districts described in subsection (1) of this section shall be the boundaries of the counties and precincts listed in subsection (1) as such boundaries existed on October 1, 1990.

     SECTION 11.  Section 37-5-18, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

     37-5-18.  In any county bordering on the Mississippi Sound and having therein at least four (4) municipal separate school districts, each member of the county board of education established by Section 37-5-1 for such county shall be elected from and shall be a resident and qualified elector in a special district determined in the following manner:

     The board of education of such a county shall apportion the county into five (5) board of education districts in the territory outside the municipal separate school districts and these board of education districts shall be divided as nearly equal as possible according to population, incumbency and other factors heretofore pronounced by the courts.  The board of education shall place upon its minutes the boundaries determined for the new five (5) board of education districts.  The board of education of said county shall thereafter publish the same in some newspaper of general circulation within said county for at least three (3) consecutive weeks and after having given notice of publication and recording the same upon the minutes of the board of education of said county, said new district lines will thereafter be effective.

     All incumbents now holding office within the district as presently constituted shall continue holding their respective offices provided they reside within the new district for the remainder of the term of office to which they have heretofore been elected and all members from the respective district shall be elected from the new board of education district constituted as herein provided in the same manner provided by law for the election of members of the county board of education.  Any vacancies in the office, whether occasioned by redistricting or by other cause, shall be filled in the manner presently provided by law for the filling of vacancies.

     SECTION 12.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2016.

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