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HB907 • 2026

Sample ballots; revise timeframe for Secretary of State to furnish to election commissioners.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-367, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO FURNISH A SAMPLE OF THE OFFICIAL BALLOT SIXTY, RATHER THAN FIFTY-FIVE, DAYS BEFORE AN ELECTION UNLESS THE DEADLINE TO CERTIFY A PRIMARY RUNOFF, AND THE SUBSEQUENT QUALIFICATION OF THE PARTY NOMINEE, MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TIMELY PUBLISH THE SAMPLE BALLOT, IN WHICH CASE THE SAMPLE BALLOT MUST BE PUBLISHED AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Elections
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Sanford
Last action
2026-03-17
Official status
Law
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Change the Deadline for Sample Ballots

This law changes when the Secretary of State must provide a sample ballot to county election commissioners before an election.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the time limit for the Secretary of State to provide a sample ballot to county election commissioners from 55 days to 60 days before an election.
  • Allows the Secretary of State to delay providing the sample ballot if there is a primary runoff and it's too late to publish the sample on time.
  • Requires the Secretary of State to release the sample ballot as soon as possible after a primary runoff, even if it’s past the original deadline.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Secretary of State
  • County election commissioners

Terms To Know

Sample Ballot
A copy of what an official ballot will look like before an election, given to election officials.
Primary Runoff
An additional primary election held when no candidate gets enough votes in the first primary election.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify what happens if the Secretary of State fails to provide a sample ballot on time.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect voter education and preparation for elections.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-17 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    03/17 Approved by Governor

  2. 2026-03-11 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    03/11 (S) Enrolled Bill Signed

  3. 2026-03-11 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    03/11 (H) Enrolled Bill Signed

  4. 2026-03-10 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    03/10 (S) Returned For Enrolling

  5. 2026-03-09 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    03/09 (S) Passed

  6. 2026-02-26 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/26 (S) Title Suff Do Pass

  7. 2026-02-17 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/17 (S) Referred To Elections

  8. 2026-02-05 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/05 (H) Transmitted To Senate

  9. 2026-02-04 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/04 (H) Passed

  10. 2026-01-22 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/22 (H) Title Suff Do Pass

  11. 2026-01-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/16 (H) Referred To Apportionment and Elections

Official Summary Text

Sample ballots; revise timeframe for Secretary of State to furnish to election commissioners.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 907 *HR43/R1772* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R1772
PAGE 1 (RKM\KP)

To: Apportionment and
Elections
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Sanford

HOUSE BILL NO. 907

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-367, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO FURNISH A SAMPLE OF THE 2
OFFICIAL BALLOT SIXTY, RATHER THAN FIFTY-FIVE, DAYS BEFORE AN 3
ELECTION UNLESS THE DEADLINE TO CERTIFY A PRIMARY RUNOFF, AND THE 4
SUBSEQUENT QUALIFICATION OF THE PARTY NOMINEE, MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE 5
TO TIMELY PUBLISH THE SAMPLE BALLOT, IN WHICH CASE THE SAMPLE 6
BALLOT MUST BE PUBLISHED AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE; AND FOR RELATED 7
PURPOSES. 8
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 9
SECTION 1. Section 23-15-367, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 10
amended as follows: 11
23-15-367. (1) Except as otherwise provided by Sections 12
23-15-974 through 23-15-985 and subsection (2) of this section, 13
the size, print and quality of paper of the official ballot is 14
left to the discretion of the officer charged with printing the 15
official ballot. 16
(2) The titles for the various offices shall be listed in 17
the following order: 18
(a) Candidates, electors or delegates for the following 19
national offices: 20
(i) President; 21
H. B. No. 907 *HR43/R1772* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1772
PAGE 2 (RKM\KP)

(ii) United States Senator or United States 22
Representative; 23
(b) Candidates for the following statewide office: 24
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney 25
General, State Treasurer, Auditor of Public Accounts, Commissioner 26
of Agriculture and Commerce, Commissioner of Insurance; 27
(c) Candidates for the following state district 28
offices: Mississippi Transportation Commissioner, Public Service 29
Commissioner, District Attorney; 30
(d) Candidates for the following legislative offices: 31
Senate and House of Representatives; 32
(e) Candidates for countywide office; 33
(f) Candidates for county district office. 34
The order in which the titles for the various offices are 35
listed within paragraphs (e) and (f) is left to the discretion of 36
the county election commissioners. Nominees of the political 37
parties, qualified to conduct primary elections as defined in 38
Section 23-15-291, shall be listed first alphabetically by the 39
candidate's last name, followed by any other candidates listed 40
alphabetically by last name. 41
(3) It is the duty of the Secretary of State, with the 42
approval of the Governor, to furnish the designated election 43
commissioner of each county a sample of the official ballot, not 44
less than * * * sixty (60) days before the election, the general 45
form of which shall be followed as nearly as practicable. 46
H. B. No. 907 *HR43/R1772* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1772
PAGE 3 (RKM\KP)
ST: Sample ballots; revise timeframe for
Secretary of State to furnish to election
commissioners.
However, if the deadline to certify a primary election runoff, and 47
the subsequent qualification of the person selected as the party 48
nominee at that primary election runoff, causes the Secretary of 49
State to be unable to furnish the sample of the official ballot in 50
the timeframe required under this subsection, the Secretary of 51
State shall publish a sample of the official ballot as soon as 52
practicable. 53
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 54
and after July 1, 2026. 55