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Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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SB2091 • 2026

Primary elections; change date to June.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-191, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CHANGE THE PRIMARY ELECTION DAY FOR STATEWIDE, STATE DISTRICT, LEGISLATIVE, COUNTY AND COUNTY DISTRICT OFFICES; TO AMEND SECTION 21-9-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM; 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 text does not provide specific details about updating rules for nominating mayoral and council candidates beyond mentioning that it conforms with existing primary election procedures.

Change Primary Election Date to June

This bill changes the primary election day for statewide, state district, legislative, county and county district offices in Mississippi to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of June.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the primary election day for various government positions to the first Tuesday after the first Monday of June.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Voters who participate in primary elections
  • Candidates running for statewide, state district, legislative, county, and county district offices

Terms To Know

Primary election
An initial voting event where voters choose candidates to represent their party in the general election.
General election
The main election where citizens vote for final candidates for public office.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill did not pass during its session and therefore has no legal effect.
  • It specifies that the changes would take effect on July 1, 2026, but since it didn't pass, this date is not relevant.

Bill History

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

    02/03 (S) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-08 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/08 (S) Referred To Elections

Official Summary Text

Primary elections; change date to June.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
S. B. No. 2091 *SS36/R169* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS36/R169
PAGE 1 (ab\kr)

To: Elections
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Blackwell

SENATE BILL NO. 2091

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-191, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO CHANGE THE PRIMARY ELECTION DAY FOR STATEWIDE, STATE DISTRICT, 2
LEGISLATIVE, COUNTY AND COUNTY DISTRICT OFFICES; TO AMEND SECTION 3
21-9-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM; AND FOR RELATED 4
PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. Section 23-15-191, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 7
amended as follows: 8
23-15-191. The first primary shall be held on the first 9
Tuesday after the first Monday of * * * June preceding any regular 10
or general election; and the second primary shall be held four (4) 11
weeks thereafter. The candidate that receives a majority of the 12
votes cast in the election shall be the party nominee. If no 13
candidate receives a majority vote at the election, then the two 14
(2) candidates who receive the highest number of votes shall have 15
their names placed on the ballot for the second primary election 16
to be held four (4) weeks later. The candidate who receives the 17
most votes in the second primary election shall be the party 18
nominee. However, if no candidate receives a majority vote at the 19
S. B. No. 2091 *SS36/R169* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS36/R169
PAGE 2 (ab\kr)
ST: Primary elections; change date to June.
first primary, and there is a tie in the election of those 20
receiving the next highest vote, then those candidates receiving 21
the next highest vote and the candidate receiving the highest vote 22
shall have their names placed on the ballot for the second primary 23
election to be held four (4) weeks later, and whoever receives the 24
most votes cast in the second primary election shall be the party 25
nominee. 26
SECTION 2. Section 21-9-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 27
amended as follows: 28
21-9-17. Except as otherwise provided, all candidates for 29
mayor and councilmen, or any of them, to be voted for at any 30
general or special municipal election, shall be nominated by party 31
primary election, and no other name or names shall be placed on 32
the official ballot at such general or special election than those 33
selected in the manner prescribed herein. Such primary election 34
or elections, shall be held not less than ten (10), nor more 35
than * * * one hundred sixty (160) days, preceding the general or 36
special election, and such primary election or elections shall be 37
held and conducted in the manner as near as may be as is provided 38
by law for state and county primary elections. 39
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from 40
and after July 1, 2026. 41