HB 1400 - Summary

• Abolishes partisan primary elections in Mississippi and replaces them with open "preferential elections" where all qualified voters can participate regardless of party affiliation.

• Establishes a two-election system: a preferential election held 3 weeks before the general election to narrow the field, followed by a general election where candidates receiving a majority in the preferential election advance automatically, or the top 2 candidates advance if no majority is achieved.

• Allows any qualified person to run as a candidate in preferential elections without regard to party affiliation, with candidates filing intent and paying qualifying fees 60 days before the general election.

• Modifies candidate qualification procedures, ballot printing requirements, and election administration to accommodate the new preferential election system while maintaining existing voting eligibility and voter registration rules.

• Makes numerous conforming amendments to Mississippi election law by replacing all references to "primary elections" with "preferential elections" and repealing statutes governing party primary election procedures, candidate nomination processes, and related election contests.