Mississippi’s legislature looks to update election laws and purge voter rolls

Home lawmakers are debating if the state ought to improve penalties for election fraud. Senate Invoice 2352 would codify voting below the title of a deceased particular person as fraud and carry felony costs. That invoice handed with no opposition, however one other measure within the Home confronted pushback for the way it may have an effect on voters.

Consultant Jansen Owen of Poplarville authored Home Invoice 400 which adjustments the penalty for voting twice in an election to a felony. At the moment, it’s a misdemeanor to vote twice in an election. Programs are additionally in place at voting precincts to stop somebody from voting twice. Democratic lawmakers requested him for proof of the crime occurring in Mississippi.

“I can’t title it off the highest of my head, however I consider there have been situations if we are able to Google it, the place folks have violated our election crimes,” says Owens. When requested in a follow-up query to make clear if it was a state of affairs the place somebody voted twice he continued “The place they’ve both voted twice or crammed out fraudulent absentee ballots or whatnot. Sure sir.” Owens did later present an instance the place somebody had dedicated this crime.

One other measure, HB 1310, would revise how the state manages voter roles. Following a number of amendments, the invoice outlines a system the place if a voter didn’t take part in two consecutive federal basic elections they have to reply to a mailed letter to keep up their registration standing. Democratic Consultant Zakiya Summers of Jackson expressed considerations for a way the invoice may trigger confusion.

“You must be registered at the least 30 days earlier than the election, and so subsequently your vote is being denied since you had no thought that you simply’re on the inactive record within the first place, and also you get purged, and also you, subsequently, can’t take part in our elections,” says Summers.

Amendments have been made to the invoice to carve out exceptions for these in army service who could not be capable to vote in an election or obtain mail.