MS HB45

Amends Section 23-15-961 of the Mississippi Code to clarify that election contests of party nominees in primary elections are governed by Sections 23-15-921 and 23-15-927, not by the general candidate qualification challenge procedure.

Establishes that the procedure in Section 23-15-961 applies only to challenges of candidate qualifications before and after nomination, but after a person is elected as a party nominee in a primary election, election contests must follow the procedures in Sections 23-15-921 and 23-15-927.

Specifies that after a party nominee assumes an elective office, qualifications to hold that office may be contested under other applicable law, separate from primary election contest procedures.

Effective date of July 1, 2016.