MS HB87

Amends Section 23-15-359 to require independent and special election candidates for state-level offices (state at large, Supreme Court district, congressional district, and circuit/chancery court district) to file qualifying petitions with the Secretary of State rather than local circuit clerks.

Maintains existing signature requirements for petitions: 1,000 qualified electors for state-wide offices, 300 for Supreme Court districts, 200 for congressional districts, and 100 for circuit/chancery court districts.

Requires petitions for state-level offices to be filed by 5:00 p.m. on the same deadline date as political party primary candidate filing, with no petitions accepted before January 1 of the election year.

Keeps local-level independent candidate petitions (county and supervisors/justice court district offices) filed with circuit clerks under existing procedures.

Requires submission to the U.S. Attorney General or U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, with the act taking effect upon approval under Section 5 of that Act.