Bill Text: MS HC20 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Constitution; amend to change day of general election for state and county officers from Tuesday to Saturday.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2014-02-04 - Died In Committee [HC20 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2014-HC20-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Constitution; Apportionment and Elections
By: Representative Miles
House Concurrent Resolution 20
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 102, SECTION 140 AND SECTION 252, MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, TO CHANGE THE DAY OF THE GENERAL ELECTION FOR STATE AND COUNTY ELECTED OFFICERS FROM THE FIRST TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST MONDAY IN NOVEMBER TO THE FIRST SATURDAY AFTER THE FIRST MONDAY IN NOVEMBER, BEGINNING IN 2015.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That the following amendments to the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 are proposed to the qualified electors of the state:
I.
Amend Section 102, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read as follows:
"Section 102. All
general elections for state and county officers shall commence and be * * *
held every four (4)
years, on the first * * * Saturday
after the first Monday in November, until altered by the law; and the electors,
in all cases except in cases of treason, felony, and breach of peace, shall be
privileged from arrest during their attendance at elections and in going to and
returning therefrom."
II.
Amend Section 140, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read as follows:
"Section 140. The
Governor of the state shall be chosen in the following manner: On the first * * * Saturday after the first Monday
of November * * * 2016, and on the first * * * Saturday after the first Monday
of November in every fourth year thereafter, until the day shall be changed by
law, an election shall be held in the several counties and districts created
for the election of members of the House of Representatives in this state, for
Governor, and the person receiving in any county or such legislative district
the highest number of votes cast therein, for * * * that office, shall be * * *
held to have received
as many votes as such county or district is entitled to members in the House of
Representatives, which last named votes are hereby designated "electoral
votes". In all cases where a representative is apportioned to two (2) or
more counties or districts, the electoral vote based on such representative,
shall be equally divided among such counties or districts. The returns of * * *
the election shall be
certified by the election commissioners, or the majority of them, of the
several counties and transmitted, sealed, to the seat of government, directed
to the Secretary of State, and shall be by him safely kept and delivered to the
Speaker of the House of Representatives on the first day of the next ensuing
session of the Legislature.
The
Speaker shall, on the same day he * * * receives the returns, open and publish them
in the presence of the House of Representatives, and * * * the House shall ascertain and count
the vote of each county and legislative district and decide any contest that
may be made concerning the same, and * * * the decision shall be made by a
majority of the whole number of members of the House of Representatives
concurring therein by a viva voce vote, which shall be recorded in its journal; * * *
however, in case the
two (2) highest candidates have an equal number of votes in any county or
legislative district, the electoral vote of such county or legislative district
shall be considered as equally divided between them. The person found to have
received a majority of all the electoral votes, and also a majority of the
popular vote, shall be declared elected."
III.
Amend Section 252, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read as follows:
"Section
252. The term of office of all elective officers under this Constitution shall
be four (4) years, except as otherwise provided herein. A general election for
all elective officers shall be held on the * * * Saturday next after the first
Monday of November * * * 2016,
and every four (4) years thereafter; * * * however, the Legislature may
change the day and date of general elections to any day and date in October,
November or December."
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That these proposed amendments shall be submitted by the Secretary of State to the qualified electors at an election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November 2014, as provided by Section 273 of the Constitution and by general law, with the amendments in this resolution being voted on as one amendment since the proposed amendments pertain to one subject.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the explanation of this proposed amendment for the ballot shall read as follows: "This proposed constitutional amendment changes the day of election for statewide and county public officials from the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November to the first Saturday after the first Monday in November, beginning in 2016 and every four years thereafter."
