Bill Text: MS SB2649 | 2025 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Elections; penalty for individuals who assist electors with ballot, but willfully fail to turn in ballot.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed) 2025-02-07 - Passed [SB2649 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2025-SB2649-Comm_Sub.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Elections
By: Senator(s) England
Senate Bill 2649
(COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)
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 WITH THE INTENT OF THE BALLOT NOT BEING CAST OR COUNTED IN THE ELECTION; 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 assisting an elector with voting in accordance with Section 23-15-907 willfully fails to transmit the ballot that was mailed to the elector with the intent of the ballot not being cast and counted in the election, the person shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be imprisoned in the county jail for not more than one (1) year, and subject to a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00).
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.
