MS HB533

Adds new procedures for contesting qualifications of candidates for county election commissioner, requiring petitions filed with the county board of supervisors no later than 60 days before the general election.

Adds new procedures for contesting qualifications of candidates for municipal office, requiring petitions filed with municipal commissioners of election no later than 31 days after the first primary election.

Establishes that election officials must rule on qualification challenge petitions within 10 days of receipt, with failure to rule interpreted as denial of the challenge.

Allows aggrieved parties to appeal to circuit court within 15 days, with circuit court conducting a de novo hearing before a judge without jury to determine candidate eligibility.

Permits further appeal to Mississippi Supreme Court within 3 days of circuit court judgment, with the appeal automatically suspending the lower court decision unless the Supreme Court orders otherwise.