Mississippi House Bill HC24

Mississippi 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/17/22
• Refer: 1/17/22
• Failed: 2/1/22

Caption

Constitution; amend to revise voter initiative procedure to conform signature requirements to number of existing congressional districts.

Impact

The amendment would modify how signature requirements are calculated and facilitate the voter initiative process in Mississippi. By constraining the amount of signatures that can come from any single congressional district to one-fifth of the total required for the state, HC24 aims to prevent disproportionate representation. This shift is designed to enhance the democratic process by ensuring that initiatives have broader support across various districts rather than being dominated by a few populated areas. The intention is to create a more equitable and fair mechanism for citizens to influence constitutional amendments.

Summary

House Concurrent Resolution 24 (HC24) proposes an amendment to Section 273 of the Mississippi Constitution of 1890, which defines the process by which people can enact constitutional amendments through voter initiatives. The proposed amendment seeks to align the maximum percentage of signatures required from any congressional district to the actual number of congressional districts in existence. This means the proportion of support for an amendment can be more accurately represented based on district populations rather than adhering to an outdated fixed percentage that does not reflect current demographics.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HC24 include the implications for representation. Some lawmakers may argue that limiting signatures from any one district could disenfranchise certain areas, particularly those with smaller populations that may struggle to meet the signature threshold overall. Moreover, discussions may arise regarding the balance between effective legislative checks and the people's right to initiative processes, sparking debate on how best to empower citizen participation without compromising legislative integrity or efficacy.