MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2017 Regular Session
To: Apportionment and Elections
By: Representatives Mickens, Faulkner, Gibbs (36th), Holloway, Karriem, Straughter
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 19-3-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS SHALL SERVE FOR STAGGERED FOUR YEAR TERMS BEGINNING IN 2022; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-193, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 19-3-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
[Until January 1, 2022, this section shall read 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 * * * general election in 2019, * * * in their
districts one (1) member of the board of supervisors. The supervisors from
Districts One, Three and Five shall be elected for a term of three (3) years.
The supervisors from Districts Two and Four shall be elected for a term of five
(5) years. 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.
[From and after January 1, 2022, this section shall read as follows:]
19-3-1. (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. * * *
(2) (a) At the general election in 2022 and every four (4) years thereafter, the qualified electors of the board of supervisors' Districts One, Three and Five shall elect in their districts one (1) member of the board of supervisors.
(b) At the general election in 2024 and every four (4) years thereafter, the qualified electors of the board of supervisors' Districts Two and Four shall elect in their districts one (1) member of the board of supervisors.
(3) 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 2. Section 23-15-193, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
[Until January 1, 2022, this section shall read as follows:]
23-15-193. At the election
in * * * 2019,
and every four (4) years thereafter, there shall be elected a Governor,
Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor of Public Accounts, State
Treasurer, Attorney General, three (3) public service commissioners, three (3)
Mississippi Transportation Commissioners, Commissioner of Insurance,
Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, Senators and members of the House of
Representatives in the Legislature, district attorneys for the several
districts, clerks of the circuit and chancery courts of the several counties,
as well as sheriffs, coroners, assessors, surveyors and members of the boards
of supervisors, justice court judges and constables, and all other officers to
be elected by the people at the general state election. All such officers shall
hold their offices for a term of four (4) years, and until their successors are
elected and qualified except for members of the boards of supervisors, whose
members from Districts One, Three and Five shall hold their terms for three (3)
years and members from Districts Two and Four shall hold their terms for five
(5) years. The state officers shall be elected in the manner prescribed in
Section 140 of the Constitution.
[From and after January 1, 2022, this section shall read as follows:]
23-15-193. At the election
in * * * 2023,
and every four (4) years thereafter, there shall be elected a Governor,
Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor of Public Accounts, State
Treasurer, Attorney General, three (3) public service commissioners, three (3)
Mississippi Transportation Commissioners, Commissioner of Insurance,
Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, Senators and members of the House of
Representatives in the Legislature, district attorneys for the several
districts, clerks of the circuit and chancery courts of the several counties,
as well as sheriffs, coroners, assessors, surveyors * * *,
justice court judges and constables, and all other officers to be elected by
the people at the general state election. All such officers shall hold their
offices for a term of four (4) years, and until their successors are elected
and qualified. The state officers shall be elected in the manner prescribed in
Section 140 of the Constitution.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2017.