Mississippi House Bill HB772

Mississippi 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/16/25
• Refer: 1/16/25
• Failed: 2/4/25

Caption

Elections; prohibit use of word "re-elect" unless for person who is current incumbent of the office sought.

Impact

The passage of HB 772 would directly impact the regulatory framework governing political campaigns in Mississippi. By restricting the use of the word 're-elect', the bill aims to provide voters with more accurate information regarding their choices in elections. This amendment could lead to a change in how campaigns communicate their messages and strategies, possibly prompting political entities to rethink their advertising and outreach tactics in order to comply with this new regulation. Overall, this may enhance the integrity of electoral processes in the state.

Summary

House Bill 772 seeks to amend Section 23-15-897 of the Mississippi Code by prohibiting candidates, political committees, or other individuals from publishing campaign materials that contain the word 're-elect' unless the materials are specifically for the current incumbent of the office being sought. This bill aims to maintain clarity in campaign communications and to prevent potential misleading information that may arise from the use of such terminology in campaign materials that are not linked to an incumbent.

Contention

Notably, the bill may encounter opposition from various political groups and candidates who feel this amendment constricts their campaign speech and advertising rights. Critics could argue that the restriction is overly broad and limits the ability of non-incumbent candidates to reference the status of their competitors in public discourse, potentially creating an uneven playing field. The debate may center around the balance between protecting voters from misleading information and ensuring that political expression remains robust and free.