Sample ballots; revise timeframe for Secretary of State to furnish to election commissioners., the official text

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2026 Regular Session

To: Apportionment and Elections

By: Representative Sanford

House Bill 907

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-367, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972,
TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO FURNISH A SAMPLE OF THE OFFICIAL BALLOT
SIXTY, RATHER THAN FIFTY-FIVE, DAYS BEFORE AN ELECTION UNLESS THE DEADLINE TO
CERTIFY A PRIMARY RUNOFF, AND THE SUBSEQUENT QUALIFICATION OF THE PARTY
NOMINEE, MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TIMELY PUBLISH THE SAMPLE BALLOT, IN WHICH CASE
THE SAMPLE BALLOT MUST BE PUBLISHED AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE; AND FOR RELATED
PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1.  Section
23-15-367, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

23-15-367.  (1)  Except as
otherwise provided by Sections 23-15-974 through 23-15-985 and subsection (2)
of this section,  the size, print and quality of paper of the official ballot
is left to the discretion of the officer charged with printing the official
ballot.

(2)  The titles for the
various offices shall be listed in the following order:

(a)  Candidates,
electors or delegates for the following national offices:

(i)  President;

(ii)  United States
Senator or United States Representative;

(b)  Candidates for the
following statewide office:  Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State,
Attorney General, State Treasurer, Auditor of Public Accounts, Commissioner of
Agriculture and Commerce, Commissioner of Insurance;

(c)  Candidates for the
following state district offices:  Mississippi Transportation Commissioner,
Public Service Commissioner, District Attorney;

(d)  Candidates for the
following legislative offices:  Senate and House of Representatives;

(e)  Candidates for
countywide office;

(f)  Candidates for
county district office.

The order in which the
titles for the various offices are listed within paragraphs (e) and (f) is left
to the discretion of the county election commissioners.  Nominees of the
political parties, qualified to conduct primary elections as defined in Section
23-15-291, shall be listed first alphabetically by the candidate's last name,
followed by any other candidates listed alphabetically by last name.

(3)  It is the duty of the
Secretary of State, with the approval of the Governor, to furnish the
designated election commissioner of each county a sample of the official
ballot, not less than * * *fifty‑five
(55) sixty (60) days before the election, the general form of
which shall be followed as nearly as practicable.  However, if the deadline
to certify a primary election runoff, and the subsequent qualification of the
person selected as the party nominee at that primary election runoff, causes
the Secretary of State to be unable to furnish the sample of the official
ballot in the timeframe required under this subsection, the Secretary of State
shall publish a sample of the official ballot as soon as practicable.

SECTION 2.  This act
shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.