Mandatory recount of votes; provide for in certain situations.

HB 393 requires automatic recounts in Mississippi elections when vote margins for a candidate or ballot question are 250 votes or 1% of total votes cast (whichever is greater). The Secretary of State, circuit clerk, or municipal clerk must conduct a manual recount (using paper ballots if optical scanners were used) within 72 hours of election day. The bill ensures recounts are free for candidates and prohibits them from being treated as election contests under other laws. It directly affects election officials and candidates in close races, aiming to verify results in narrow victories. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.