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SB2349 • 2026

Voter fraud; increase penalties for.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-753, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE PUNISHMENT FOR THE CRIME OF VOTE FRAUD TO A FINE NOT LESS THAN $1,000.00 AND A TERM OF IMPRISONMENT IN THE PENITENTIARY FOR NOT LESS THAN ONE YEAR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Crime Elections
Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and was never signed into law.

Increase Penalties for Voter Fraud

This bill increases the punishment for voter fraud to a fine of at least $1,000 and imprisonment for at least one year.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law to make penalties for vote fraud more severe.
  • Sets a minimum fine of $1,000 for those found guilty of vote fraud.
  • Requires a prison sentence of at least one year for people convicted of vote fraud.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who commit voter fraud
  • Those who pay or compensate others to assist voters in marking their absentee ballots

Terms To Know

Voter Fraud
When someone breaks the law by voting illegally, influencing votes with money or favors, or submitting false ballot applications.
Absentee Ballot
A vote cast before Election Day by mail or other means for those who cannot be at their polling place on election day.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was never signed into law.
  • It only affects people found guilty of voter fraud after the new penalties are in effect, if it had passed.

Bill History

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

    02/03 (S) Died In Committee

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

    01/19 (S) Referred To Elections

Official Summary Text

Voter fraud; increase penalties for.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
S. B. No. 2349 *SS26/R742* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS26/R742
PAGE 1 (ab\kr)

To: Elections
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Seymour

SENATE BILL NO. 2349

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-753, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO INCREASE PUNISHMENT FOR THE CRIME OF VOTE FRAUD TO A FINE NOT 2
LESS THAN $1,000.00 AND A TERM OF IMPRISONMENT IN THE PENITENTIARY 3
FOR NOT LESS THAN ONE YEAR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. Section 23-15-753, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 6
amended as follows: 7
23-15-753. (1) Any person who willfully, unlawfully and 8
feloniously procures, seeks to procure, or seeks to influence the 9
vote of any person voting by absentee ballot, by the payment of 10
money, the promise of payment of money, or by the delivery of any 11
other item of value or promise to give the voter any item of 12
value, or by promising or giving the voter any favor or reward in 13
an effort to influence his or her vote, or any person who aids, 14
abets, assists, encourages, helps, or causes any person voting an 15
absentee ballot to violate any provision of law pertaining to 16
absentee voting, or any person who sells his or her vote for 17
money, favor, or reward, has been paid or promised money, a 18
reward, a favor or favors, or any other item of value, or any 19
S. B. No. 2349 *SS26/R742* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R742
PAGE 2 (ab\kr)
ST: Voter fraud; increase penalties for.
person who fraudulently requests or submits an absentee ballot 20
application for any voter, or any person who shall willfully swear 21
falsely to any affidavit provided for in Sections 23-15-621 22
through 23-15-735, shall be guilty of the felony crime of "vote 23
fraud" and, upon conviction, shall be * * * fined not less 24
than * * * One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) nor more than Five 25
Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), * * * and shall be sentenced to the 26
State Penitentiary for not less than one (1) year nor more than 27
five (5) years. 28
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person who pays or 29
compensates another person for assisting voters in marking their 30
absentee ballots to base the pay or compensation on the number of 31
absentee voters assisted or the number of absentee ballots cast by 32
persons who have received the assistance. Any person who violates 33
this section, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than One 34
Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars 35
($5,000.00), * * * and shall be imprisoned in the Penitentiary not 36
less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years * * *. 37
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 38
and after July 1, 2026. 39