County and municipal executive agreements; revise circuit/municipal clerk or county/municipal election commission to enter.

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To: Apportionment and
Elections
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Sanford

HOUSE BILL NO. 909

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 23-15-266, 23-15-239, 23-15-265, 1
23-15-267, 23-15-333, 23-15-335 AND 23-15-597, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 2
1972, TO PROVIDE THAT IF A COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 3
ELECTS TO ENTER INTO A WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH THE CIRCUIT OR 4
MUNICIPAL CLERK OR THE COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL ELECTION COMMISSION 5
AUTHORIZING THE CIRCUIT OR MUNICIPAL CLERK OR THE COUNTY OR 6
MUNICIPAL ELECTION COMMISSION TO PERFORM ALL OF THE DUTIES 7
REQUIRED OF THE COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, THE 8
CIRCUIT OR MUNICIPAL CLERK OR THE COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL ELECTION 9
COMMISSION SHALL ENTER INTO THAT AGREEMENT; AND FOR RELATED 10
PURPOSES. 11
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 12
SECTION 1. Section 23-15-266, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 13
amended as follows: 14
23-15-266. (1) A county or municipal executive committee 15
shall be eligible to enter into written agreements with a circuit 16
or municipal clerk or a county or municipal election commission as 17
provided for in Section 23-15-239(2), 23-15-265(2), 23-15-267(4), 18
23-15-333(4), 23-15-335(2) or 23-15-597(2), only if the political 19
party with which such county or municipal executive committee is 20
affiliated: 21
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(a) Has cast for its candidate for Governor in the last 22
two (2) gubernatorial elections ten percent (10%) of the total 23
vote cast for Governor; or 24
(b) Has cast for its candidate for Governor in three 25
(3) of the last five (5) gubernatorial elections twenty-five 26
percent (25%) of the total vote cast for Governor. 27
(2) If a county or municipal executive committee elects to 28
enter into a written agreement with the circuit or municipal clerk 29
or the county or municipal election commission authorizing the 30
circuit or municipal clerk or the county or municipal election 31
commission to perform all of the duties required of the county or 32
municipal executive committee, the circuit or municipal clerk or 33
the county or municipal election commission shall enter into that 34
agreement. 35
SECTION 2. Section 23-15-239, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 36
amended as follows: 37
23-15-239. (1) The executive committee of each county, in 38
the case of a primary election, or the election commissioners of 39
each county, in the case of all other elections, in conjunction 40
with the circuit clerk, shall, in the years in which counties 41
conduct an election, sponsor and conduct, not less than five (5) 42
days before each election, not less than four (4) hours and not 43
more than eight (8) hours of poll manager training to instruct 44
poll managers as to their duties in the proper administration of 45
the election and the operation of the polling place. Any poll 46
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manager who completes the online training course provided by the 47
Secretary of State shall only be required to complete two (2) 48
hours of in-person poll manager training. No poll manager shall 49
serve in any election unless he or she has received these 50
instructions once during the twelve (12) months immediately 51
preceding the date upon which the election is held; however, 52
nothing in this section shall prevent the appointment of an 53
alternate poll manager to fill a vacancy in case of an emergency. 54
The county executive committee or the election commissioners, as 55
appropriate, shall train a sufficient number of alternates to 56
serve in the event a poll manager is unable to serve for any 57
reason. 58
(2) (a) If it is eligible under Section 23-15-266, the 59
county executive committee may enter into a written agreement with 60
the circuit clerk or the county election commission authorizing 61
the circuit clerk or the county election commission to perform any 62
of the duties required of the county executive committee pursuant 63
to this section. If the county executive committee elects to 64
enter into a written agreement with the circuit clerk or the 65
county election commission authorizing the circuit clerk or the 66
county election commission to perform all of the duties required 67
of the county executive committee, the circuit clerk or the county 68
election commission shall enter into that agreement. Any 69
agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection shall be signed 70
by the chair of the county executive committee and the circuit 71
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clerk or the chair of the county election commission, as 72
appropriate. The county executive committee shall notify the 73
state executive committee and the Secretary of State of the 74
existence of the agreement. 75
(b) If it is eligible under Section 23-15-266, the 76
municipal executive committee may enter into a written agreement 77
with the municipal clerk or the municipal election commission 78
authorizing the municipal clerk or the municipal election 79
commission to perform any of the duties required of the municipal 80
executive committee pursuant to this section. If the municipal 81
executive committee elects to enter into a written agreement with 82
the municipal clerk or the municipal election commission 83
authorizing the municipal clerk or the municipal election 84
commission to perform all of the duties required of the municipal 85
executive committee, the municipal clerk or the municipal election 86
commission shall enter into that agreement. Any agreement entered 87
into pursuant to this subsection shall be signed by the chair of 88
the municipal executive committee and the municipal clerk or the 89
chair of the municipal election commission, as appropriate. The 90
municipal executive committee shall notify the state executive 91
committee and the Secretary of State of the existence of the 92
agreement. 93
(3) The board of supervisors and the municipal governing 94
authority, in their discretion, may compensate poll managers who 95
attend these training sessions. The compensation shall be at a 96
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rate of not less than the federal hourly minimum wage and not more 97
than Twenty Dollars ($20.00) per hour. Poll managers shall not be 98
compensated for more than sixteen (16) hours of attendance at the 99
training sessions regardless of the actual amount of time that 100
they attended the training sessions. 101
(4) The time and location of the training sessions required 102
pursuant to this section shall be announced to the general public 103
by posting a notice thereof at the courthouse and by delivering a 104
copy of the notice to the office of a newspaper having general 105
circulation in the county five (5) days before the date upon which 106
the training session is to be conducted. Persons who will serve 107
as poll watchers for candidates and political parties, as well as 108
members of the general public, shall be allowed to attend the 109
sessions. 110
(5) Subject to the following annual limitations, the 111
election commissioners shall be entitled to receive a per diem in 112
the amount of One Hundred Ten Dollars ($110.00), to be paid from 113
the county general fund, for every day or period of no less than 114
five (5) hours accumulated over two (2) or more days actually 115
employed in the performance of their duties for the necessary time 116
spent in conducting training sessions as required by this section: 117
(a) In counties having less than fifteen thousand 118
(15,000) residents according to the latest federal decennial 119
census, not more than five (5) days per year; 120
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(b) In counties having fifteen thousand (15,000) 121
residents according to the latest federal decennial census but 122
less than thirty thousand (30,000) residents according to the 123
latest federal decennial census, not more than eight (8) days per 124
year; 125
(c) In counties having thirty thousand (30,000) 126
residents according to the latest federal decennial census but 127
less than seventy thousand (70,000) residents according to the 128
latest federal decennial census, not more than ten (10) days per 129
year; 130
(d) In counties having seventy thousand (70,000) 131
residents according to the latest federal decennial census but 132
less than ninety thousand (90,000) residents according to the 133
latest federal decennial census, not more than twelve (12) days 134
per year; 135
(e) In counties having ninety thousand (90,000) 136
residents according to the latest federal decennial census but 137
less than one hundred seventy thousand (170,000) residents 138
according to the latest federal decennial census, not more than 139
fifteen (15) days per year; 140
(f) In counties having one hundred seventy thousand 141
(170,000) residents according to the latest federal decennial 142
census but less than two hundred thousand (200,000) residents 143
according to the latest federal decennial census, not more than 144
eighteen (18) days per year; 145
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(g) In counties having two hundred thousand (200,000) 146
residents according to the latest federal decennial census but 147
less than two hundred twenty-five thousand (225,000) residents 148
according to the latest federal decennial census, not more than 149
nineteen (19) days per year; 150
(h) In counties having two hundred twenty-five thousand 151
(225,000) residents or more according to the latest federal 152
decennial census, not more than twenty-two (22) days per year. 153
(6) Election commissioners shall claim the per diem 154
authorized in subsection (5) of this section in the manner 155
provided for in Section 23-15-153(6). 156
(7) (a) To provide poll manager training, the Secretary of 157
State has developed a single, comprehensive poll manager training 158
program to ensure uniform, secure elections throughout the state. 159
The program includes online training on all state and federal 160
election laws and procedures and voting machine opening and 161
closing procedures. 162
(b) County poll managers who individually access and 163
complete the online training program, including all skills 164
assessments, at least five (5) days before an election shall be 165
defined as "certified poll managers," and entitled to a 166
"Certificate of Completion." 167
(c) At least one (1) certified poll manager shall be 168
appointed by the county election officials to work in each polling 169
place in the county during each general election. 170
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SECTION 3. Section 23-15-265, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 171
amended as follows: 172
23-15-265. (1) The county executive committee of each 173
county shall meet not less than two (2) weeks before the date of 174
any primary election and appoint the poll managers for same, all 175
of whom may be members of the same political party. The number of 176
poll managers appointed by the county executive committee shall be 177
the same number as election commissioners are allowed to appoint 178
pursuant to Sections 23-15-231 and 23-15-235. If the county 179
executive committee fails to meet on the date named, supra, 180
further notice shall be given of the time and place of meeting. 181
(2) (a) If it is eligible under Section 23-15-266, the 182
county executive committee may enter into a written agreement with 183
the circuit clerk or the county election commission authorizing 184
the circuit clerk or the county election commission to perform any 185
of the duties required of the county executive committee pursuant 186
to this section. If the county executive committee elects to 187
enter into a written agreement with the circuit clerk or the 188
county election commission authorizing the circuit clerk or the 189
county election commission to perform all of the duties required 190
of the county executive committee, the circuit clerk or the county 191
election commission shall enter into that agreement. Any 192
agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection shall be signed 193
by the chair of the county executive committee and the circuit 194
clerk or the chair of the county election commission, as 195
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appropriate. The county executive committee shall notify the 196
state executive committee and the Secretary of State of the 197
existence of the agreement. 198
(b) If it is eligible under Section 23-15-266, the 199
municipal executive committee may enter into a written agreement 200
with the municipal clerk or the municipal election commission 201
authorizing the municipal clerk or the municipal election 202
commission to perform any of the duties required of the municipal 203
executive committee pursuant to this section. If the municipal 204
executive committee elects to enter into a written agreement with 205
the municipal clerk or the municipal election commission 206
authorizing the municipal clerk or the municipal election 207
commission to perform all of the duties required of the municipal 208
executive committee, the municipal clerk or the municipal election 209
commission shall enter into that agreement. Any agreement entered 210
into pursuant to this subsection shall be signed by the chair of 211
the municipal executive committee and the municipal clerk or the 212
chair of the municipal election commission, as appropriate. The 213
municipal executive committee shall notify the state executive 214
committee and the Secretary of State of the existence of such 215
agreement. 216
SECTION 4. Section 23-15-267, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 217
amended as follows: 218
23-15-267. (1) The ballot boxes provided by the election 219
commissioners in each county shall be used in primary elections, 220
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and the county executive committees shall distribute them to the 221
voting precincts of the county before the time for opening the 222
polls, in the same manner, as near as may be, as that provided for 223
in general elections. 224
(2) The boxes shall be securely sealed and locked beginning 225
at the start of voting on election day until the end of voting on 226
election day; and the box shall be kept by one (1) of the poll 227
managers, and the poll manager having the box shall carefully keep 228
it, and neither open it himself or herself nor permit it to be 229
done, nor permit any person to have any access to it throughout 230
voting during election day. The box shall not be removed from the 231
polling place after the polls are open until the polls close and 232
the count is completed. 233
(3) After each election, the ballot boxes shall be delivered 234
to the clerk of the circuit court of the county for preservation; 235
and he or she shall keep them for future use, and, when called 236
for, deliver them to the election commissioners. 237
(4) (a) If it is eligible under Section 23-15-266, the 238
county executive committee may enter into a written agreement with 239
the circuit clerk or the county election commission authorizing 240
the circuit clerk or the county election commission to perform any 241
of the duties required of the county executive committee pursuant 242
to this section. If the county executive committee elects to 243
enter into a written agreement with the circuit clerk or the 244
county election commission authorizing the circuit clerk or the 245
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county election commission to perform all of the duties required 246
of the county executive committee, the circuit clerk or the county 247
election commission shall enter into that agreement. Any 248
agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection shall be signed 249
by the chair of the county executive committee and the circuit 250
clerk or the chair of the county election commission, as 251
appropriate. The county executive committee shall notify the 252
State Executive Committee and the Secretary of State of the 253
existence of such agreement. 254
(b) If it is eligible under Section 23-15-266, the 255
municipal executive committee may enter into a written agreement 256
with the municipal clerk or the municipal election commission 257
authorizing the municipal clerk or the municipal election 258
commission to perform any of the duties required of the municipal 259
executive committee pursuant to this section. If the municipal 260
executive committee elects to enter into a written agreement with 261
the municipal clerk or the municipal election commission 262
authorizing the municipal clerk or the municipal election 263
commission to perform all of the duties required of the municipal 264
executive committee, the municipal clerk or the municipal election 265
commission shall enter into that agreement. Any agreement entered 266
into pursuant to this subsection shall be signed by the chair of 267
the municipal executive committee and the municipal clerk or the 268
chair of the municipal election commission, as appropriate. The 269
municipal executive committee shall notify the State Executive 270
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Committee and the Secretary of State of the existence of such 271
agreement. 272
(5) The person, or persons, whose duty it is to comply with 273
the provisions of this section and who shall fail, or neglect, 274
from any cause, to deliver the boxes or any of them as herein 275
provided shall, upon conviction, be fined not less than Two 276
Hundred Dollars ($200.00) and be imprisoned in the county jail of 277
the residence of the person, or persons, who violates any of the 278
provisions of this section, for a period of not less than thirty 279
(30) days or more than six (6) months, and fined not more than 280
Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). 281
SECTION 5. Section 23-15-333, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 282
amended as follows: 283
23-15-333. (1) The county executive committee shall have 284
printed all necessary ballots, for use in primary elections. The 285
county executive committee shall have printed all necessary 286
absentee ballots forty-five (45) days before the election as 287
required by law. The ballots shall contain the names of all the 288
candidates to be voted for at the election, and there shall be 289
left on each ballot one (1) blank space under the title of each 290
office for which a nominee is to be elected; and in the event of 291
the death of any candidate whose name shall have been printed on 292
the ballot, the name of the candidate duly substituted in the 293
place of the deceased candidate may be written in such blank space 294
by the voter. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of 295
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this section, the order in which the titles to the various offices 296
shall be printed, and the size, print and quality of the paper of 297
the ballot is left to the discretion of the county executive 298
committee. Provided, however, that in all cases the arrangement 299
of the names of the candidates for each office shall be 300
alphabetical. No ballot shall be used except those so printed. 301
(2) The titles for the various offices shall be listed in 302
the following order: 303
(a) Candidates, electors or delegates for the following 304
national offices: 305
(i) President of the United States of America; 306
(ii) United States Senator or United States 307
Representative; 308
(b) Candidates for the following statewide offices: 309
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney 310
General, State Treasurer, Auditor of Public Accounts, Commissioner 311
of Agriculture and Commerce, Commissioner of Insurance; 312
(c) Candidates for the following state district 313
offices: Mississippi Transportation Commissioner, Public Service 314
Commissioner, District Attorney; 315
(d) Candidates for the following legislative offices: 316
Senator and House of Representatives; 317
(e) Candidates for countywide office; 318
(f) Candidates for county district office. 319
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The order in which the titles for the various offices are 320
listed within each of the categories listed in paragraphs (e) and 321
(f) are left to the discretion of the county executive committee. 322
Candidates' names shall be listed alphabetically under each office 323
by the candidate's last name. 324
(3) If after the deadline to qualify as a candidate for an 325
office, only one (1) person has duly qualified to be a candidate 326
for the office in the primary election, the name of that person 327
shall be placed on the ballot; provided, however, that if not more 328
than one (1) person has duly qualified to be a candidate for each 329
office on the primary election ballot, the election for all 330
offices on the ballot shall be dispensed with and the appropriate 331
executive committee shall declare each candidate as the party 332
nominee if the candidate meets all the qualifications to hold the 333
office. 334
(4) (a) If it is eligible under Section 23-15-266, the 335
county executive committee may enter into a written agreement with 336
the circuit clerk or the county election commission authorizing 337
the circuit clerk or the county election commission to perform any 338
of the duties required of the county executive committee pursuant 339
to this section. If the county executive committee elects to 340
enter into a written agreement with the circuit clerk or the 341
county election commission authorizing the circuit clerk or the 342
county election commission to perform all of the duties required 343
of the county executive committee, the circuit clerk or the county 344
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election commission shall enter into that agreement. Any 345
agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection shall be signed 346
by the chair of the county executive committee and the circuit 347
clerk or the chair of the county election commission, as 348
appropriate. The county executive committee shall notify the 349
state executive committee and the Secretary of State of the 350
existence of such agreement. 351
(b) If it is eligible under Section 23-15-266, the 352
municipal executive committee may enter into a written agreement 353
with the municipal clerk or the municipal election commission 354
authorizing the municipal clerk or the municipal election 355
commission to perform any of the duties required of the municipal 356
executive committee pursuant to this section. If the municipal 357
executive committee elects to enter into a written agreement with 358
the municipal clerk or the municipal election commission 359
authorizing the municipal clerk or the municipal election 360
commission to perform all of the duties required of the municipal 361
executive committee, the municipal clerk or the municipal election 362
commission shall enter into that agreement. Any agreement entered 363
into pursuant to this subsection shall be signed by the chair of 364
the municipal executive committee and the municipal clerk or the 365
chair of the municipal election commission, as appropriate. The 366
municipal executive committee shall notify the state executive 367
committee and the Secretary of State of the existence of such 368
agreement. 369
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SECTION 6. Section 23-15-335, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 370
amended as follows: 371
23-15-335. (1) The county executive committee shall 372
designate a person whose duty it shall be to distribute all 373
necessary ballots for use in a primary election, and shall 374
designate one (1) among the poll managers at each polling place to 375
receive and receipt for the blank ballots to be used at that 376
place. When the blank ballots are delivered to a local poll 377
manager, the distributor shall take from the local poll manager a 378
receipt therefor signed in duplicate by both the distributor and 379
the poll manager, one (1) of which receipts the distributor shall 380
deliver to the circuit clerk and the other shall be retained by 381
the local poll manager and the last mentioned duplicate receipt 382
shall be enclosed in the ballot box with the voted ballots when 383
the polls have been closed and the votes have been counted. The 384
printer of the ballots shall take a receipt from the distributor 385
of the ballots for the total number of the blank ballots delivered 386
to the distributor. The printer shall secure all ballots printed 387
by him or her in such a safe manner that no person can procure 388
them or any of them, and he or she shall deliver no blank ballot 389
or ballots to any person except the distributor above mentioned, 390
and then only upon his or her receipt therefor as above specified. 391
The distributor of the blank ballots shall so securely hold the 392
same that no person can obtain any of them, and he or she shall 393
not deliver any of them to any person other than to the authorized 394
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local poll managers and upon their respective receipts therefor. 395
The executive committee shall see to it that the total blank 396
ballots delivered to the distributor, shall correspond with the 397
total of the receipts executed by the local poll managers. 398
(2) (a) If it is eligible under Section 23-15-266, the 399
county executive committee may enter into a written agreement with 400
the circuit clerk or the county election commission authorizing 401
the circuit clerk or the county election commission to perform any 402
of the duties required of the county executive committee pursuant 403
to this section. If the county executive committee elects to 404
enter into a written agreement with the circuit clerk or the 405
county election commission authorizing the circuit clerk or the 406
county election commission to perform all of the duties required 407
of the county executive committee, the circuit clerk or the county 408
election commission shall enter into that agreement. Any 409
agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection shall be signed 410
by the chair of the county executive committee and the circuit 411
clerk or the chair of the county election commission, as 412
appropriate. The county executive committee shall notify the 413
state executive committee and the Secretary of State of the 414
existence of such agreement. 415
(b) If it is eligible under Section 23-15-266, the 416
municipal executive committee may enter into a written agreement 417
with the municipal clerk or the municipal election commission 418
authorizing the municipal clerk or the municipal election 419
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commission to perform any of the duties required of the municipal 420
executive committee pursuant to this section. If the municipal 421
executive committee elects to enter into a written agreement with 422
the municipal clerk or the municipal election commission 423
authorizing the municipal clerk or the municipal election 424
commission to perform all of the duties required of the municipal 425
executive committee, the municipal clerk or the municipal election 426
commission shall enter into that agreement. Any agreement entered 427
into pursuant to this subsection shall be signed by the chair of 428
the municipal executive committee and the municipal clerk or the 429
chair of the municipal election commission, as appropriate. The 430
municipal executive committee shall notify the state executive 431
committee and the Secretary of State of the existence of such 432
agreement. 433
(3) Any person charged with any of the duties prescribed in 434
this section who shall willfully or with culpable carelessness 435
violate the same shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. 436
SECTION 7. Section 23-15-597, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 437
amended as follows: 438
23-15-597. (1) The county executive committee shall meet 439
no later than one (1) week from the day following each primary 440
election to receive and canvass the returns that must be made 441
within the time fixed by law for returns of general elections and 442
declare the result, and announce the name of the nominees for 443
county and county district offices and the names of those 444
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candidates to be submitted to the second primary. The vote for 445
state, state district offices and legislative offices shall be 446
tabulated by precincts and certified to and returned to the State 447
Executive Committee, such returns to be mailed by registered 448
letter or any safe mode of transmission within thirty-six (36) 449
hours after the returns are canvassed and the result ascertained. 450
The State Executive Committee shall meet one (1) week from the day 451
following the first primary election held for state, state 452
district offices and legislative offices, and shall proceed to 453
canvass the returns and to declare the result, and announce the 454
names of those nominated for the different offices in the first 455
primary and the names of those candidates whose names are to be 456
submitted to the second primary election. The State Executive 457
Committee shall also meet one (1) week from the day on which the 458
second primary election was held and receive and canvass the 459
returns for state and district offices, if any, and legislative 460
offices, if any, voted on in the second primary. An exact and 461
full duplicate of all tabulations by precincts as certified under 462
this section shall be filed with the circuit clerk of the county 463
who shall safely preserve the same in his or her office. 464
(2) (a) If it is eligible under Section 23-15-266, the 465
county executive committee may enter into a written agreement with 466
the circuit clerk or the county election commission authorizing 467
the circuit clerk or the county election commission to perform any 468
of the duties required of the county executive committee pursuant 469
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to this section. If the county executive committee elects to 470
enter into a written agreement with the circuit clerk or the 471
county election commission authorizing the circuit clerk or the 472
county election commission to perform all of the duties required 473
of the county executive committee, the circuit clerk or the county 474
election commission shall enter into that agreement. Any 475
agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection shall be signed 476
by the chair of the county executive committee and the circuit 477
clerk or the chair of the county election commission, as 478
appropriate. The county executive committee shall notify the 479
State Executive Committee and the Secretary of State of the 480
existence of the agreement. 481
(b) If it is eligible under Section 23-15-266, the 482
municipal executive committee may enter into a written agreement 483
with the municipal clerk or the municipal election commission 484
authorizing the municipal clerk or the municipal election 485
commission to perform any of the duties required of the municipal 486
executive committee pursuant to this section. If the municipal 487
executive committee elects to enter into a written agreement with 488
the municipal clerk or the municipal election commission 489
authorizing the municipal clerk or the municipal election 490
commission to perform all of the duties required of the municipal 491
executive committee, the municipal clerk or the municipal election 492
commission shall enter into that agreement. Any agreement entered 493
into pursuant to this subsection shall be signed by the chair of 494
H. B. No. 909 *HR26/R1871* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1871
PAGE 21 (RKM\KW)
ST: County and municipal executive agreements;
revise circuit/municipal clerk or
county/municipal election commission to enter.
the municipal executive committee and the municipal clerk or the 495
chair of the municipal election commission, as appropriate. The 496
municipal executive committee shall notify the State Executive 497
Committee and the Secretary of State of the existence of the 498
agreement. 499
SECTION 8. This act shall take effect and be in force from 500
and after July 1, 2026. 501