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HB1251 • 2026

Voter identification; clarify that only MS driver's license shall be acceptable license.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-563, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THAT ONLY A CURRENT AND VALID MISSISSIPPI'S DRIVER'S LICENSE, NOT THE DRIVER'S LICENSE OF ANOTHER STATE, SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR VOTER IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Elections
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Crawford
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not specify the impact on other forms of acceptable IDs besides Mississippi driver’s license and does not provide details about their status post-enactment.

Voter ID Law Change

This bill changes Mississippi's voter identification law to require only a current and valid Mississippi driver's license for voting.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the voter identification requirements in Mississippi.
  • Limits acceptable IDs to a current and valid Mississippi driver’s license.
  • Does not allow driver’s licenses from other states as acceptable IDs.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Voters in Mississippi who need to show identification when voting.

Terms To Know

Affidavit ballot
A special ballot used by voters without proper ID on election day, which must be confirmed later with the correct ID.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was not signed into law.
  • It does not affect other forms of voter identification beyond driver's licenses.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/19 (H) Referred To Apportionment and Elections

Official Summary Text

Voter identification; clarify that only MS driver's license shall be acceptable license.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 1251 *HR43/R1026* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R1026
PAGE 1 (ENK\KP)

To: Apportionment and
Elections
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Crawford

HOUSE BILL NO. 1251

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-563, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO CLARIFY THAT ONLY A CURRENT AND VALID MISSISSIPPI'S DRIVER'S 2
LICENSE, NOT THE DRIVER'S LICENSE OF ANOTHER STATE, SHALL BE 3
CONSIDERED FOR VOTER IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES; AND FOR RELATED 4
PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. Section 23-15-563, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 7
amended as follows: 8
23-15-563. (1) Each person who appears to vote in person at 9
a polling place or the registrar's office shall be required to 10
identify himself or herself to a poll manager or the registrar by 11
presenting current and valid photo identification before such 12
person shall be allowed to vote. 13
(2) The identification required by subsection (1) of this 14
section shall include, but not be limited to, the following: 15
(a) A valid Mississippi driver's license, no other 16
state's driver's license shall be accepted; 17
(b) A valid identification card issued by a branch, 18
department, agency or entity of the State of Mississippi; 19
H. B. No. 1251 *HR43/R1026* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1026
PAGE 2 (ENK\KP)

(c) A valid United States passport; 20
(d) A valid employee identification card containing a 21
photograph of the elector and issued by any branch, department, 22
agency or entity of the United States government, the State of 23
Mississippi, or any county, municipality, board, authority or 24
other entity of this state; 25
(e) A current and valid Mississippi license to carry a 26
pistol or revolver; 27
(f) A valid tribal identification card containing a 28
photograph of the elector; 29
(g) A valid United States military identification card; 30
(h) A current and valid student identification card, 31
containing a photograph of the elector, issued by any accredited 32
college, university or community or junior college in the State of 33
Mississippi; and 34
(i) An official Mississippi voter identification card 35
containing a photograph of the elector. 36
(3) For purposes of this section valid shall mean an 37
official government document that establishes the voter's identity 38
and has no expiration date or has an issuance date not more than 39
ten (10) years prior to the date the document is presented. 40
(4) (a) A person who appears to vote in person at a polling 41
place and does not have identification as required by this section 42
may vote by affidavit ballot. The affidavit ballot shall then be 43
H. B. No. 1251 *HR43/R1026* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1026
PAGE 3 (ENK\KP)
ST: Voter identification; clarify that only MS
driver's license shall be acceptable license.
counted if the person shall present acceptable photo 44
identification to the registrar within five (5) days. 45
(b) An elector who has a religious objection to being 46
photographed may vote by affidavit ballot, and the elector, within 47
five (5) days after the election, shall execute an affidavit in 48
the registrar's office affirming that the exemption applies. 49
(5) The intentional failure of an election official to 50
require a voter to present identification as required by this 51
section shall be considered corrupt conduct under Section 97-13-19 52
and shall be reported to the Secretary of State and the Attorney 53
General. 54
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 55
and after July 1, 2026. 56