SC 503 Mississippi Senate · 2026 Regular Session

County elections; require all candidates to obtain the majority vote to be elected in.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment requiring all candidates for state and county offices in Mississippi to win a majority (more than 50%) of votes cast to be elected. It directly affects all candidates running for state and county elected positions, including governors, legislators, sheriffs, and county commissioners. The key provision changes election rules so that if no candidate receives a majority in the first election, a runoff election must be held between the top two candidates. This would replace Mississippi's current system, where a candidate can win with a plurality (the most votes, even if less than 50%). The amendment would take effect if approved by voters in the 2026 election.
Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 8, 2026 Last action Feb 3, 2026