Bill Text: MS HB559 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Constitution; petition to amend by voter initiative may contain electronic or digital signatures.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Failed) 2014-02-04 - Died In Committee [HB559 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2014-HB559-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Constitution; Apportionment and Elections
By: Representative Barker
House Bill 559
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-17-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW A PETITION PROPOSING AN INITIATIVE MEASURE TO BE SIGNED BY MEANS OF AN ELECTRONIC OR DIGITAL SIGNATURE; TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO PRESCRIBE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH SUCH SIGNATURES MAY BE MADE ON SUCH A PETITION; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PERSON WHO CIRCULATES THE PETITION MAY NOT USE AN ELECTRONIC OR DIGITAL SIGNATURE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT THAT HE OR SHE MUST SIGN HIS OR HER NAME ON EACH PAGE OF THE PETITION; TO AMEND SECTION 23-17-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 23-17-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
23-17-17. (1) The person proposing an initiative measure shall print blank petitions upon single sheets of paper of good writing quality not less than eight and one-half (8-1/2) inches in width and not less than fourteen (14) inches in length, and the petition shall also comply with any requirements prescribed by the Secretary of State under subsection (3) of this section. Each sheet shall have a full, true and correct copy of the proposed measure referred to therein printed on the reverse side of the petition or attached thereto.
(2) Only a person who is a qualified elector of this state may circulate a petition or obtain signatures on a petition.
(3) A petition proposing an initiative measure may be signed by means of an electronic or digital signature. The Secretary of State shall prescribe requirements for the manner in which electronic or digital signatures may be made on a petition proposing an initiative measure; however, the person who circulates a petition may not use an electronic or digital signature to comply with the requirement that he or she must sign his or her name on each page of the petition, as contained in subsection (12) of Section 273, Mississippi Constitution of 1890.
SECTION 2. Section 23-17-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
23-17-19. The Secretary of State shall design the form each sheet of which shall contain the following:
"WARNING
EVERY PERSON WHO SIGNS THIS PETITION WITH ANY OTHER THAN HIS OR HER TRUE NAME, KNOWINGLY SIGNS MORE THAN ONE OF THESE PETITIONS RELATING TO THE SAME INITIATIVE MEASURE, SIGNS THIS PETITION WHEN HE OR SHE IS NOT A QUALIFIED ELECTOR OR MAKES ANY FALSE STATEMENT ON THIS PETITION MAY BE PUNISHED BY FINE, IMPRISONMENT, OR BOTH.
PETITION FOR INITIATIVE MEASURE
To the Honorable ___________________, Secretary of State of the State of Mississippi:
We, the undersigned citizens and qualified electors of the State of Mississippi, respectfully direct that this petition and the proposed measure known as Initiative Measure No. ____, entitled (here insert the established ballot title of the measure), a full, true and correct copy of which is printed or attached on the reverse side of this petition, be transmitted to the Legislature of the State of Mississippi at its next ensuing regular session, and we respectfully petition the Legislature to adopt the proposed measure; and each of us for himself or herself says: I have personally signed this petition or authorized my electronic or digital signature, I am a qualified elector of the State of Mississippi in the city (or town), county and congressional district written after my name, my residence address is correctly stated and I have knowingly signed this petition only once."
Each sheet shall also provide adequate space for the following information: Petitioner's signature; print name for positive identification; residence address, street and number, if any; city or town; county; precinct; and congressional district.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2014.
