General election ballot; revise the order of names printed on.
Summary
HB38 revises Mississippi law governing the order in which candidate names appear on general election ballots. For statewide and other non-municipal general elections, the bill requires nominees of political parties whose presidential nominees received at least 10% of the vote in the previous presidential election to be listed first, alphabetically by last name, followed by nominees of other political parties qualified to conduct primary elections, and then all other candidates alphabetically by last name. The bill makes a similar change for municipal general election ballots, but specifically places Republican and Democratic nominees first, followed by other qualified party nominees and then other candidates.
The measure also makes conforming changes to related ballot-format provisions so the same ordering rule is reflected across general election, municipal election, and ballot-printing statutes. It does not change candidate qualification standards, petition requirements, filing deadlines, or election commission authority to review candidate eligibility; those existing provisions remain in place. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
Impact
HB38 amends Sections 23-15-367, 23-15-361, 23-15-511, and 23-15-359 of the Mississippi Code to standardize ballot-name ordering rules across different types of elections. In practical terms, election officials will need to print ballots using the new party-priority sequence, which affects how candidates are displayed to voters in general and municipal elections. The bill does not alter who may qualify for the ballot, but it does affect ballot design and the relative visibility of party nominees versus independents and other candidates.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests the bill was generally supported in the House, where it passed 93-16 on February 5, 2025. No committee transcripts were provided, so there is no recorded discussion to indicate detailed support or opposition arguments. The vote margin indicates broad approval, though not unanimity, suggesting some members had reservations about the policy or its implications.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the preferential placement of certain party nominees at the top of the ballot, which can be viewed as giving established parties a visibility advantage over smaller parties and independent candidates. The municipal provision is especially notable because it explicitly names Republican and Democratic nominees first, which may raise concerns from minor-party advocates about fairness and ballot access. Supporters would likely view the bill as an administrative clarification and a way to make ballot ordering more consistent, while opponents may see it as entrenching major-party advantage.