AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE PROCEDURE BY WHICH A REGISTRAR VERIFIES AN APPLICANT'S CITIZENSHIP UPON RECEIPT OF A COMPLETED VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION; TO REQUIRE THE REGISTRAR TO ENTER EACH APPLICANT'S INFORMATION INTO THE UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICE'S SYSTEMATIC ALIEN VERIFICATION FOR ENTITLEMENTS (SAVE); TO REQUIRE REGISTRARS TO MAKE ANNUAL REPORTS TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE REGARDING THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS FLAGGED BY A SAVE SYSTEM CHECK AND THE NUMBER REMOVED FOLLOWING CONFIRMATION; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 23-15-165.1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO CONDUCT TWO COMPARISONS ANNUALLY OF THE STATEWIDE ELECTIONS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM RECORDS WITH THE SAVE DATABASE AND TO REPORT INELIGIBLE MATCHES TO THE APPROPRIATE REGISTRAR; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 23-15-165.2, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO ANNUALLY REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE ON THE RESULTS ACHIEVED WITH THE SAVE SYSTEM; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 23-15-165.3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXEMPT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION COLLECTED THROUGH USE OF THE SAVE SYSTEM FROM THE MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC RECORDS ACT OF 1983; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 23-15-165.4, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR SEVERABILITY OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE PRECEDING SECTIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
Impact
The legislation prescribes that by January 1, 2025, the Secretary of State must conduct biannual comparisons of the Statewide Elections Management System with the SAVE database. Registrars are required to report annually on the number of applicants flagged and those removed from the voter rolls following confirmation of ineligibility. Additionally, the bill addresses the handling of personally identifiable information, ensuring it remains confidential and exempt from public disclosure under the Mississippi Public Records Act.
Summary
House Bill 892 aims to enhance the voter registration process in Mississippi by amending Section 23-15-15 of the Mississippi Code. Primarily, the bill mandates that registrars verify applicants' citizenship status through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service's Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system. This verification process is intended to ensure that only eligible individuals are registered to vote, thereby reinforcing the integrity of the electoral system in the state.
Contention
While proponents argue that HB 892 will bolster the integrity of the election process by preventing non-citizens from voting, critics may express concerns regarding potential overreach and the risk of disenfranchising eligible voters. Notably, the bill's requirement for registrars to place flagged applicants in a 'pending' status until citizenship can be verified may lead to confusion and accessibility issues for genuine applicants who may struggle to provide the necessary documentation. Furthermore, there are implications for local control in administering voter registration, especially given the potential backlog that could be caused by verification processes.
Investigative reports; exempt youth court reports from the Mississippi Public Records Act, bring forward provisions related to.Commission on Judicial Performance.