Mississippi Senate to consider more restrictive ballot initiative bill.
The Mississippi Senate Accountability, Efficiency and Transparency Committee has pushed forward legislation to amend the state's constitution and bring regulatory changes to the state's stonewalled ballot initiative process.
On Thursday, AET Chair Sen. David Parker, R-Olive Branch, presented the committee with Senate Bill 2770 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 527, which would establish stricter requirements for those seeking to start ballot initiatives in Mississippi, as well as change the constitution to account for the state's four congressional districts.
In the early 2000s, Mississippi's districts went from five to four after a United States Census accounted for a declined state population.
Requirements listed out in the bill include a threshold of double the number of qualified voters in the state to sign petitions to put the initiative on the state's next general election, or about 200,000 people. SB 2770 also bans voters from attempting to use the ballot to amend the state constitution, the Public Employment Retirement System of Mississippi, any abortion laws passed by the Legislature and only one subject can go on any one ballot. It would also require a voting majority of 60% or more to be passed into law.
https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2024/03/04/ms-senate-ballot-initiative-bill-takes-out-constitution-abortion-changes/72837330007/