Senate Bill 2871 Summary

• Requires all voters appearing in person at polling places or registrar's offices to present valid photo identification or government documents showing name and address before voting, with alternatives including social security cards, birth certificates, and naturalization documents.

• Establishes a free Mississippi Voter Identification Card program administered by county registrars and the Secretary of State, valid for four years and available only to registered voters who lack other valid identification.

• Allows voters without required identification to cast affidavit ballots, which are counted if the person is determined to be a registered voter upon examination.

• Removes "agents of the elector" from the list of persons authorized to orally request absentee ballots on behalf of voters, limiting such requests to parents, spouses, children, siblings, legal guardians, and those with power of attorney.

• Imposes penalties of $5,000 fine and one to five years imprisonment for using identification requirements to intimidate voters or prevent qualified persons from voting, and requires election officials to report intentional failures to enforce identification requirements.