Senate Bill 2649

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 97-13-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CREATE A CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR SOMEONE WHO ASSISTS AN ELECTOR WITH CASTING A BALLOT, BUT WILLFULLY FAILS TO TURN IN THE BALLOT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 97-13-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

97-13-13. (1) If any person shall take or remove any ballot from a voting place before the close of the polls, he or she shall, on conviction, be imprisoned in the county jail not more than one (1) year, or be fined not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or both.

(2) If any person who is assisting an elector with voting, in accordance with the law, willfully fails to cast the ballot in the ballot box with the intent of the ballot not being counted in the election, the person shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a felony and shall be imprisoned in the county jail for not more than three (3) years, and subject to a fine of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00).

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.