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MississippiHB 8592026 Regular SessionHouse

In-person absentee voting; require use of OMR equipment and establish security measures and procedure to challenge.

Sponsored By: Noah Sanford (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Apportionment and ElectionsElectionsAccountability, Efficiency, Transparency

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

County scanners and ballot rules start 2026

Counties and cities may buy or rent ballot‑scanning equipment that meets state standards. Clerks keep, maintain, and repair the machines, and the Secretary of State may issue statewide instructions. Machines must block overvotes, accept write‑ins, show clear instructions, and use ballots printed in a scanner‑friendly format; one sample ballot must be posted per precinct. Before counting, officials must publicly test the scanners with premarked test ballots and fix any errors; if scanners fail, paper‑ballot rules apply. Counties must print enough ballots (at least 125% of the highest comparable primary turnout; at least 60% of registered voters for a general). Beginning July 1, 2026, these rules are in effect.

Resolution board fixes problem ballots

Election officials appoint a trained resolution board of at least three people to review ballots scanners reject or that are damaged or unreadable. The board may make a stamped, numbered duplicate that matches the voter’s choices and then count the duplicate with scanners. The board follows clear voter‑intent rules, and for overvotes may count unaffected races by scanner and tally the rest under supervision. Scanners must be set to reject damaged or defective ballots, and officials cannot override those rejections. Board members take an oath, keep records, and must complete training within the prior 12 months and attend a session at least five days before the election; candidates, their immediate family, and certain party officials cannot serve.

Seals, custody, and public ballot counts

At least an hour before polls open, managers set up booths, post sample ballots, give instructions, and seal ballot boxes. Counting is open to the public; observers may watch but not touch ballots, and all workers take the constitutional oath. At 7:00 p.m., or after the last voter in line has voted, managers publicly open boxes and count ballots out loud. Managers prepare a ballot accounting report, keep a tamper‑evident seal log, and put all materials in a sealed box; if totals do not match the receipt book, they add a sworn explanation. After counting, a manager delivers the box to the clerk for numbered sealing; seals are paid for by the board of supervisors, and returns are tabulated and reported on election night.

45-day in-person absentee voting rules

Beginning July 1, 2026, you can appear in person to request and cast an absentee ballot up to 45 days before the election. When you appear, you fill out the application, vote, and feed your ballot into a scanner. Some filings have a latest time of 12:00 noon on the set day before that election type. If ballots are not printed by day 45, you can still apply before the election and get a mailed ballot when they are printed.

In-person absentee voting uses scanners

When you vote absentee at the registrar’s office, you fill out a paper ballot and feed it into a scanner. The last time to vote in person absentee is 12:00 noon the Saturday before Tuesday elections, the Thursday before Saturday elections, or two days before other elections. The envelope form has your application on the front and your voter certificate on the back, and is at least 8.5 x 11 inches. The registrar checks the envelope, signs a sworn section, and your ballot is secured. A signature mismatch is not a reason to reject an in‑person absentee ballot. Clerks must seal scanners daily, keep a seal log, print a daily in‑person absentee count, and give the report to the public on request.

State system tracks absentee ballots

Beginning July 1, 2026, registrars must use the Statewide Election Management System for all absentee applications and ballots. The system records who is issued a ballot, who returns one, and who votes absentee in person. Election staff must enter these records to account for each absentee ballot.

How mailed absentee ballots are counted

Registrars lock mailed absentee ballots in a sealed box in the registrar’s office when they arrive. Absentee ballots stay at the registrar’s office and are not sent to precincts. Once you cast an absentee ballot by mail or in person, it is final, and you cannot also vote at the polling place. Ballots received before 7:00 p.m. the day before the election are counted when the polls close. Ballots that arrive up to the fifth business day after the election are processed by the resolution board.

Rules for challengers and poll watchers

Candidates, credentialed poll watchers, precinct voters, poll workers, and the registrar may challenge a voter. Grounds include not being registered in the precinct, not being the correct voter, already voting, not living in the precinct, illegal registration, removing a ballot, or other legal disqualifications. If a challenge is unanimously upheld, the vote is rejected and a paper ballot marked “REJECTED” is filed; if unanimously frivolous, the voter proceeds; if no unanimous decision, the voter casts a “CHALLENGED” ballot that is counted separately. Each candidate can be present or have a watcher, and each party with a candidate may have two watchers in general and special elections. Watchers must show written authorization, may observe, but cannot talk to voters, touch ballots, or photograph restricted materials.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Noah Sanford

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 170 • No: 2

Senate vote • 3/10/2026

Passed

Yes: 51 • No: 1

House vote • 2/10/2026

Passed As Amended

Yes: 119 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor

    3/19/2026legislature

  2. Enrolled Bill Signed

    3/12/2026Senate

  3. Enrolled Bill Signed

    3/12/2026House

  4. Returned For Enrolling

    3/11/2026Senate

  5. Passed

    3/10/2026Senate

  6. Title Suff Do Pass

    3/3/2026Senate

  7. DR - TSDP: EL To AC

    2/26/2026Senate

  8. Referred To Elections;Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

    2/17/2026Senate

  9. Transmitted To Senate

    2/12/2026House

  10. Passed As Amended

    2/10/2026House

  11. Amended

    2/10/2026House

  12. Title Suff Do Pass

    1/29/2026House

  13. Referred To Apportionment and Elections

    1/16/2026House

Bill Text

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