Mississippians who collect or transmit a mailed absentee ballot on behalf of someone else could be charged with a misdemeanor offense and face up to one year in a county jail or a fine of up to $3,000 after Gov. Tate Reeves signed Senate Bill 2358 into law on Wednesday. It will take effect on July 1.
The new law will allow exceptions for a family member, household member, caregiver, an election official or an employee of the U.S. Postal Service when it becomes effective on July 1.
Reeves said the bill continues from where the Legislature left off with last year’s voting restrictions.
“This bill builds on last year’s election integrity wins that banned illegal aliens and non-citizens from voting and blocked Zuckerburks from funding elections,” he said. Undocumented immigrants were already prohibited from voting before last year’s legislation, but the 2022 law implemented required citizenship checks for people registering to vote.
The latter 2022 law the governor mentioned prohibits election offices from accepting funds from outside individuals and organizations, such as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerburg, for the purpose of “voter education, voter outreach or voter registration programs.”
Mississippi Secretary of States Michael Watson welcomed the newest election law in a tweet on Wednesday. His office oversees elections in the state.
“Happy to learn today of Gov. Reeves’ support of our efforts to ban ballot harvesting,” Watson wrote.
Mail-In Voting Already Limited in Mississippi
Voting absentee by mail is restricted in Mississippi to those who are 65 years or older, people who are temporarily residing outside of their county of residence and people with temporary or permanent physical disability.
It also includes, “The parent, spouse or dependent of a person with a temporary or permanent physical disability who is hospitalized outside of his or her county of residence or more than fifty (50) miles distant from his or her residence, if the parent, spouse or dependent will be with such person on election day.”
Mississippi Secretary of States Michael Watson said he was “happy” Gov. Tate Reeves signed S.B. 2358 into law. Courtesy Secretary of State
A notary public
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