Mississippi House Bill 788 allows un-registered voters' affidavit ballots to serve as voter registration

Original title: Affidavit ballot; allow to serve as voter registration in certain situations.

Last action · March 3, 2026: 03/03 (S) Died In CommitteeSponsors: Timaka James-Jones and 24 others

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Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

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What This Bill Proposed

Official description

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-573, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT IF A VOTER WAS NOT A REGISTERED VOTER IN THE JURISDICTION IN WHICH HE OR SHE TRIED TO VOTE BUT WAS OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE JURISDICTION WHERE HE OR SHE TRIED TO VOTE, THE VOTER'S AFFIDAVIT BALLOT SHALL BE USED AS HIS OR HER REGISTRATION TO VOTE; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE CASTING OF A VALID AFFIDAVIT BALLOT MAY SERVE AS A WRITTEN REQUEST TO TRANSFER VOTING PRECINCTS OR WARDS; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-152, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT IF A VOTER WHO WAS MAILED A CONFIRMATION NOTICE AND PLACED ON INACTIVE STATUS IN THE STATEWIDE ELECTIONS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CASTS AN AFFIDAVIT BALLOT, HE OR SHE SHALL BE RETURNED TO ACTIVE STATUS IN THE STATEWIDE ELECTIONS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Why it matters

The legislation alters how provisional ballots are processed for individuals who attempt to vote outside their registered precinct or who have been moved to inactive voter rolls, directly changing registration maintenance timelines and record updates for county election officials.

Background

Mississippi requires residents to register to vote prior to elections and maintains voter registration rolls through the Statewide Elections Management System. context
Affidavit ballots are provisional ballots used when a voter's eligibility or registration cannot be immediately verified at the polling place on election day. context

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Voters

Voters casting affidavit ballots due to jurisdictional mismatches, address changes, or inactive status have their ballots converted to registrations or status updates.

Directly affected

County Election Commissioners

Election commissioners must process converted affidavit ballots, update the Statewide Elections Management System, and manage list maintenance rules.

Directly affected

Circuit Clerks

Circuit clerks must process registration transfers within thirty days following an election when an affidavit ballot serves as a transfer request.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does voting by affidavit ballot update my address if I moved to a new precinct?

Yes. If you cast a valid on election day after moving to a new ward or precinct without submitting a prior written request, that ballot is deemed a written request to transfer your registration.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died in committee.

Procedural history

7 actions

Mar 3, 2026Senate
03/03 (S) Died In Committee
Feb 17, 2026SenateCommittee
02/17 (S) Referred To Elections
Feb 5, 2026House
02/05 (H) Transmitted To Senate
Feb 4, 2026HouseFloor
02/04 (H) Passed As Amended
Feb 4, 2026House
02/04 (H) Amended
Jan 22, 2026HouseCommittee
01/22 (H) Title Suff Do Pass As Amended

Show 1 earlier action

Jan 16, 2026HouseCommittee
01/16 (H) Referred To Apportionment and Elections

Version history

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