Mississippi Senate Bill SB2605

Mississippi 2022 Regular Session

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

Caption

Absentee voting; establish electronic application procedure for college students.

Impact

By allowing students to submit absentee ballot applications electronically, SB2605 aims to streamline the process and reduce barriers to participation in elections. The bill also stipulates that once a student absentee ballot application is approved, the student may receive absentee ballots automatically for all elections occurring until the following June 30. This move not only simplifies the voting process for students but also addresses concerns related to low voter participation rates among this demographic.

Summary

Senate Bill 2605 seeks to modernize the absentee voting process for students enrolled in higher education institutions in Mississippi. The bill authorizes the Secretary of State to create a secure website designed to facilitate the submission of electronic absentee ballot applications by student voters. This bill is particularly aimed at making the voting process more accessible for students who are away from their registered voting residence on election day due to their educational commitments.

Contention

Some points of contention surrounding SB2605 may include concerns about the security of electronic voting systems and the verification process for student identities. Critics could argue that relying on a digital platform to manage absentee ballot applications may introduce vulnerabilities that could compromise the integrity of the voting process. Additionally, discussions may arise regarding the potential for increased administrative burdens on local election officials tasked with managing these new protocols and ensuring compliance with existing voting laws.