MS HB859

Requires all in-person absentee ballots in Mississippi to be cast using optical mark reading (OMR) equipment rather than sealed ballot boxes, with paper ballots as backup if equipment becomes inoperable

Mandates OMR equipment be sealed at close of business each day during the absentee voting period, with seal logs maintained for security

Requires registrars to post daily lists of in-person absentee voters in a conspicuous location at the end of each voting day

Establishes new elector's certificate form for in-person absentee voting that includes sworn statements under penalty of perjury, with penalties of up to 5 years in prison and $5,000 fine for vote fraud

Requires all ballots to be processed and tabulated on election night before ballot boxes are sealed, with daily reports of in-person absentee ballot totals printed by OMR equipment and made publicly available