Senate Bill 2275

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 23-15-301, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THAT THE STATE AND COUNTIES EQUALLY SHARE THE COST OF PROVIDING PREPAID POSTAGE ENVELOPES FOR MAIL-IN BALLOTS TO BE RETURNED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 23-15-301, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

23-15-301. All the expenses of printing the tickets or primary election ballots, for necessary stationery, and for paying the managers, clerks and returning officer of every primary election authorized by this chapter held in any county shall be paid by the board of supervisors of such county out of the general funds of the county, but such officers of primary elections shall receive only such compensation as is authorized by Section 23-15-227 to be paid managers, clerks and returning officer for like services in holding elections thereunder. For expenses related to mail-in ballots, the State Board of Election Commissioners, as identified in Section 23-15-211, shall reimburse each county board, which performs the duties outlined in Section 23-15-263, for fifty percent (50%) of the cost of prepaid postage for mail-in ballot return envelopes provided to individuals voting by absentee ballot as authorized by Section 23-15-173. However, this section shall not apply to the expenses of a primary election held by any political party, which at either of the last two (2) preceding general elections for the office of Governor or either of the last two (2) preceding national elections for President of the United States, did not vote as many as twenty percent (20%) of the total votes cast in the entire state.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.