MS HB444

Requires ballots in primary elections to contain the names of all party nominees certified by the appropriate executive committee, as well as independent and special election candidates who have timely filed required petitions.

Maintains existing candidate qualification deadlines of 5:00 p.m. on March 1 of the election year (or earlier statutory qualifying deadline) for payment of assessments to state or county executive committees.

Provides temporary modification for 2011 only if 2010 census redistricting information is not received by January 1, 2011, extending the legislative office qualifying deadline to June 1, 2011.

Requires state executive committees to transmit copies of candidate statements to the Secretary of State by 6:00 p.m. on the qualifying deadline date.

Mandates submission of the act to the United States Attorney General or District Court for the District of Columbia under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, with effectiveness contingent upon approval under Section 5 of that act.