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SB2009 • 2026

Elections; public official's qualification as candidate deemed resignation of current office.

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL'S QUALIFICATION AS A CANDIDATE FOR A PUBLIC OFFICE SHALL BE DEEMED A RESIGNATION AND VACANCY OF THE OFFICIAL'S CURRENT OFFICE IF THE TERM OF THE PUBLIC OFFICE THAT IS SOUGHT BEGINS DURING THE TERM FOR WHICH THE ELECTED OFFICIAL CURRENTLY SERVES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Elections
Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass during its session.

Elections: Resignation When Running Mid-Term

This bill says that if an elected official runs for a new office during their current term and the new term starts before the end of the current one, they are considered to have resigned from their current position.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires an elected official to resign and create a vacancy in their current office when they qualify as a candidate for another public office whose term begins during the term for which the official currently serves.
  • Specifies that any vacancy created by this rule must be filled according to existing laws.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Elected officials who run for another public office during their current term and where the new term starts before the end of the current one will lose their position automatically under this bill.

Terms To Know

Vacancy
An empty or unoccupied position, especially when an elected official leaves and no one is in the role yet.
Qualification as a candidate
The process of officially becoming someone who can run for public office.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill did not pass during its session.
  • It does not specify what happens if an official runs for another position but the term starts after their current one ends.

Bill History

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

    02/03 (S) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-06 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/06 (S) Referred To Elections;Constitution

Official Summary Text

Elections; public official's qualification as candidate deemed resignation of current office.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
S. B. No. 2009 *SS36/R162* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS36/R162
PAGE 1 (aa\kr)
ST: Elections; public official's qualification
as candidate deemed resignation of current
office.
To: Elections; Constitution
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Blackwell

SENATE BILL NO. 2009

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL'S QUALIFICATION AS 1
A CANDIDATE FOR A PUBLIC OFFICE SHALL BE DEEMED A RESIGNATION AND 2
VACANCY OF THE OFFICIAL'S CURRENT OFFICE IF THE TERM OF THE PUBLIC 3
OFFICE THAT IS SOUGHT BEGINS DURING THE TERM FOR WHICH THE ELECTED 4
OFFICIAL CURRENTLY SERVES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. An elected official's qualification as a 7
candidate for a public office shall be deemed a resignation and 8
vacancy of the official's current office if the term of the public 9
office that is sought begins during the term for which the elected 10
official currently serves. Any vacancy created under this section 11
shall be filled as provided by law for that office. 12
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 13
and after July 1, 2026. 14