US EditionSenate measure to restore Mississippi voters’ right to ballot initiative advances
The measure requires about 170,000 signatures, excludes abortion and pension issues, and limits legislative repeal of approved initiatives for two years.
- On Tuesday, the Senate Elections Committee adopted SCR 518 to partially restore Mississippi voters' initiative rights, ahead of the February 12 deadline, according to the committee chairman.
- Since 2021, the Mississippi Supreme Court invalidated the initiative process over technical language tied to a medical marijuana vote, and lawmakers have not agreed to restore it.
- SCR 518 would require initiative organizers to gather signatures from at least 10% of registered voters — roughly 170,000 — and would bar initiatives on abortion and the state public pension system.
- The measure now heads to the full Senate where at least two-thirds of members must approve it before Feb. 12, and voter ratification is required if approved.
- Taken together, the package restores a limited citizen initiative process but bans abortion and public pension system initiatives and requires a 10% signature threshold of roughly 170,000.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Restoration of ballot initiative process back before Mississippi lawmakers - Mississippi Monitor
By Frank Corder, Magnolia Tribune Sen. Jeremy England, R-Vancleave, presents legislation in the Senate Chamber at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. Lawmakers in both chambers are considering bills that survived their committee deadline. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) A measure to restore Mississippi’s ballot initiative process was moved out of the Senate Elections Committee this week to restart the negotiation process…
Senate measure to restore Mississippi voters’ right to ballot initiative advances - WXXV News 25
By TAYLOR VANCE/Mississippi Today The Senate Elections Committee adopted a measure on Tuesday that would, at least partially, restore the system to allow Mississippians to bypass the Legislature and put issues to a statewide vote. The committee voted to approve Senate Concurrent Resolution 518, which would require initiative organizers to gather signatures from at least 10% of registered voters in the state, or roughly 170,000 signatures, befo…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 75% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
