HB859

Mississippi HB859 mandates in-person absentee voting using OMR equipment and establishes security measures and procedures for challenging votes.

Mississippi HB859 requires all absentee ballots cast in person at the registrar's office to be processed using Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) equipment. If the OMR equipment becomes inoperable, paper ballots must be used. The bill mandates the sealing of OMR equipment at night and outlines procedures for handling damaged or defective ballots. It also establishes a resolution board to review ballots rejected by the OMR equipment. The bill allows candidates and credentialed poll watchers to challenge voter qualifications and outlines the process for handling such challenges.