Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Hosemann: Revise election laws

Secretary of State Gibbert Hosemann issued the following recommendations on revising Mississippi's election laws.

Complete Revision of Mississippi Election Laws

In a press conference today, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann announced a proposed complete revision of Mississippi Election Laws.  The Secretary of State’s Election Code Study Group has recommended strengthening, updating and reorganizing the state’s election laws. 

“Following implementation of a voter identification requirement by Mississippians, it is time to address outdated and inefficient election laws which have, in some cases, been on the books for decades.  These proposals make it easier to cast your ballot, harder for someone to cheat the electorate and provide severe penalties for those who do.  Its goal is to help ensure the integrity of our most precious right to cast a ballot in a free and fair election.” stated Secretary Hosemann.  

“This proposed Legislation also addresses the voting public’s right to know who is putting mailouts in their mailbox and who is paying for them.  This allows the voter to gauge credibility of the publication and the candidates for public office and their supporters to respond.” said Secretary Hosemann.    

The majority of the updates bring Mississippi’s laws up to date with current elections procedures and technology.  The major changes are as follows:

Modernized Criminal Penalties
·Consolidates all election crimes in Chapter 13, Title 97 of the Mississippi Code
·Updates penalties to match fines and sentences applied to other felonies and misdemeanors


Online Voter Registration
· Modernizes and streamlines Mississippi’s voter registration system
·Brings Mississippi in line with over half the United States which allows for online registration
·Will allow United States citizens who are Mississippi residents who possess a Mississippi driver’s license or DPS issued identification card to register electronically
·Will help eliminate errors and reduce costs of paper registrations

Pre-Election Day Voting
·Creates a twenty-one (21) day no excuse voting period for citizens to cast their ballot before election day.
· Voting will be conducted only at the County Courthouse during the pre-election voting period
·Any registered voter may cast a final vote during the pre-election voting period
·Eliminates the need for in-person absentee voting

Financial Disclosures to Voters
· Moves deadline for political committees to file a statement of organization from ten (10) days after receiving or spending funds, to forty-eight (48) hours after spending or receiving funds.
·Increases transparency by requiring filers to itemize payments made to credit card issuers, banks, or online payment portals
·Places sanctions on political committees that fail to make required filings with the Secretary of State

Presidential Primary
·Moves Mississippi’s Presidential Preference Primary from the second Tuesday in March to the first Tuesday
·Will make Mississippi have a stronger voice in choosing the presidential nominees

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kudos to the Secretary on these proposals. Unfortunately, Mississippi legislators aren't interested in increasing voter turnout. Online voter registration and pre-election day voting make sense where you want to maximize voter participation in the democratic process, but, we live Mississippians seem to live in democratic bizarro world.

Anonymous said...

Excellent work by SOS

Anonymous said...

Mostly good. But, keep the primary on March 8 (MS will get much more press with fewer states holding primaries that day). And make the online election site with precinct results easier to navigate. Only Alabama has a worse setup.

Gagglebert said...

He actually took a day off from Autism Lobbying?

Anonymous said...

Mediocre work. Didn't address the issues that need to be fixed in our antiquated system, but using this as a podium to press his favorite issues - early voting and the SEC primary.

Early voting is nothing but a system to help incumbents and provide much better opportunity for more voter fraud. Hosemann has been claiming its nothing but a replacement for absentee voting, which is absolute crap. He hasn't been able to convince anyone of importance to join his bandwagon so he is trying to push it thru this way.

The SEC primary was shouted down by even his own party - the Repubs. Oh, that's right - Hosemann considers himself as a king and therefore the party is part of his reign. Moving to the earlier week would do nothing but lessen our importance in the process - and is no longer even the SEC concept he claimed last fall when he promised his buddy in GA that we would be there with them.

Delbert - go back to lobbying for autism where you at least have a little bit of personal experience. You have proven for years that you know little of anything about election laws.

Anonymous said...

These recommendations coming from the office that was shown today to not know the current law. ASOS testified in Eaton hearing about advice given to Smith County that was different from Supreme Court opinion on the issue. Guess the Smith County folks called for advice on the wrong day.



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In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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