House Bill 809

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO ESTABLISH A SECURE INTERNET WEBSITE TO PERMIT REGISTERED ELECTORS TO MAKE CHANGES TO THEIR NAME, ADDRESS OR OTHER INFORMATION SET FORTH IN THE ELECTOR'S EXISTING VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN CHANGES TO VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION THAT ARE MADE ON SUCH WEBSITE SHALL BE CONSIDERED A WRITTEN REQUEST TO TRANSFER THE ELECTOR'S REGISTRATION TO A NEW WARD OR VOTING PRECINCT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) (a) The Secretary of State shall, with the support of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, establish a secure Internet website to permit registered electors to change the their name, address or other information set forth in the elector's existing voter registration record.

(b) Upon the request of an elector through the secure website, the software used by the Secretary of State for processing applications through the website shall provide for verification that:

(i) The elector has a current and valid Mississippi driver's license or photo identification card issued by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety and the number for that driver's license or photo identification card provided by the applicant matches the number for the elector's driver's license or photo identification card that is on file with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety;

(ii) The name and date of birth provided by the voter matches the name and date of birth that is on file with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety; and

(iii) The information provided by the elector matches the information on file with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.

If any of the information does not match that on file with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, the changes shall be rejected.

(2) Any person who attempts to change registration information under this section shall be subject to the penalties for false registration provided for in Section 97-13-25.

(3) The Secretary of State and the Department of Public Safety shall enter into a memorandum of understanding providing for the sharing of information required to facilitate the requirements of this section.

SECTION 2. Section 23-15-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

23-15-13. (1) An elector who moves from one ward or voting precinct to another ward within the same municipality or voting precinct within the same county shall not be disqualified to vote, but he or she shall be entitled to have his or her registration transferred to his or her new ward or voting precinct upon making written request therefor at any time up to thirty (30) days prior to the election at which he or she offers to vote, and if the removal occurs within thirty (30) days of such election he or she shall be entitled to vote in his or her new ward or voting precinct by affidavit ballot as provided in Section 23-15-573.

(2) If an elector requests a change in his or her address under Section 1 of this act and the address is located in a precinct in the county or municipality that differs from the precinct as reflected in the then current registration records, the request shall be treated in the same manner as a written request to transfer the elector's registration under subsection (1) of this section.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2016.