State Begins Final Comment on Voter ID Rules

JACKSON, Miss. — With the dust settling from the Supreme Court decision to strike down Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, the Secretary of State’s Office is focusing on the implementation of the voter identification. Implementation regulations were proposed on December 12, 2012 for public comment.

“I intend to make the Voter ID regulations final in the next few weeks, and I solicit any final comment from any Mississippi voter on those regulations,” says Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann. “I have also written a letter to the Department of Justice requesting any comment they may have in regard to the proposed regulations I will now issue for implementing Mississippi’s constitutional voter ID requirement.”

To review the proposed regulations, please click the following link: http://www.sos.ms.gov/ACProposed/00019271b.pdf.

The Department of Justice previously requested two changes to the regulations proposed by the Secretary of State’s Office: (1) to allow the utilization of a pre-issued Mississippi voter registration card to obtain a free Mississippi Voter ID and (2) to eliminate the requirement of a voter to surrender a Mississippi Voter ID, even if the residence address is no longer current. Those changes have been made. Our State’s submission was complete prior to the Supreme Court ruling.

“Open dialog is vital to ensuring every Mississippian who qualifies for a voter identification card receives one, free of charge without undue burden,” says Secretary Hosemann.

In the interim, the Secretary of State’s Office will proceed with ordering the necessary photographic equipment for Circuit Clerk’s offices and will prepare instruction manuals for election commissioners and Circuit Clerks.

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