Senate Bill 2144 Summary

• Extends the time between an initial election and any required runoff election from three weeks to four weeks across all statewide, county, local, municipal, and school district elections in Mississippi.

• Prohibits ranked-choice voting (instant runoff voting) in all Mississippi elections, effective July 1, 2024, and voids any conflicting local ordinances or policies.

• Defines prohibited ranked-choice voting as any method allowing voters to rank candidates by preference with ballots tabulated in multiple rounds until one candidate achieves a majority.

• Exempts absentee voters covered under the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act from the ranked-choice voting prohibition.

• Takes effect January 1, 2025 for runoff timing changes, with the ranked-choice voting prohibition effective July 1, 2024.