HB 788 Mississippi House · 2026 Regular Session

Affidavit ballot; allow to serve as voter registration in certain situations.

HB 788 modifies Mississippi's election rules to allow voters who are not registered in the jurisdiction they are voting in (but are otherwise eligible) to cast an affidavit ballot. This ballot will be used as their official voter registration, adding them to the statewide voter rolls as if they had completed a standard registration form. The bill also allows the affidavit ballot to serve as a written request to transfer voting precincts or wards, and automatically reactivates voters who were placed on inactive status (due to a confirmation notice) after they cast such a ballot. These changes aim to streamline voter registration and address common issues at polling places.
Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 5, 2026 Last action Mar 3, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced Current version · 3 edits
MINOR
This bill modifies Mississippi's affidavit ballot procedures for voters who attempt to vote in the wrong jurisdiction. The key change restricts how these ballots are handled, preventing them from being counted in the election while still allowing them to serve as registration applications for future elections.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on affidavit ballot procedures, but the applicability of these ballots has been narrowed to exclude them from being counted in the current election.
ELIGIBILITY

Changed the treatment of affidavit ballots cast by voters in the wrong jurisdiction: they may no longer be counted in the election but can still be used to register voters for future elections.

REQUIREMENT

Removed language requiring affidavit ballots to be returned within five business days after the election, simplifying the submission timeline requirement.

Condensed the language regarding court-ordered extended polling times, removing the phrase 'or other order' while maintaining the same practical effect.

Floor votes · House Feb 4, 2026

How they voted

1155
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 122
Feb 4, 2026
D Democratic40
40 Yea
100% Yea
I Independent2
2 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican80
73 Yea 5 Nay 2
91% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
3
Committee
3
Amendments
1
Feb 17, 2026
Committee
Referred To Elections
upper
Feb 5, 2026
Introduced
Transmitted To Senate
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed As Amended
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Lower · Passed
Title Suff Do Pass As Amended
lower
Jan 16, 2026
Committee
Referred To Apportionment and Elections
lower
1 primary · 23 co-sponsors

Sponsors