Senate Bill 2031 Summary

• Requires absentee ballots to be placed in an unmarked envelope before being placed in the outer envelope containing required affidavits and certificates to ensure ballot secrecy.

• Modifies absentee ballot handling procedures for election managers to remove and open unmarked envelopes containing ballots only when counting begins, rather than during initial envelope verification.

• Updates elector's certificate, attesting witness certificate, and voter assistance certificate forms to reference the unmarked envelope requirement and authorize election managers to open it during counting.

• Applies to both standard ballot counting procedures and direct recording electronic voting system procedures, requiring unmarked envelopes to be opened and ballots examined before processing through optical scanners.

• Takes effect July 1, 2014, amending Mississippi Code sections 23-15-631, 23-15-635, 23-15-639, 23-15-719, and 23-15-721.