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Laws governing ballot measures in Mississippi
From Ballotpedia
This page provides an overview of resources addressing the laws and procedures that govern statewide and local ballot measures in Mississippi, including the initiative and referendum process, constitutional amendments, signature requirements, recall procedures, and campaign finance regulations.
Explore the links below for more information:
- Types of ballot measures in Mississippi
- Laws governing the initiative process in Mississippi
- Amending the Mississippi Constitution
- Laws governing local ballot measures in Mississippi
- Signature requirements for ballot measures in Mississippi
- Laws governing recall in Mississippi
- Laws governing state constitutional conventions in Mississippi
- Campaign finance requirements for Mississippi ballot measures
- Changes to laws governing ballot measures in Mississippi
Laws governing ballot measures in Mississippi
Types of ballot measures in Mississippi
- Mississippi has one type of citizen-initiated ballot measures: indirect initiated constitutional amendments. However, the current Mississippi process for initiated amendments includes a signature distribution requirement that is based on five congressional districts. Mississippi now only has four congressional districts, resulting in the Mississippi Supreme Court ruling that the current requirements for ballot measures to qualify for the ballot cannot be met.[1]
- In Mississippi, the legislature can refer constitutional amendments and state statutes to the ballot.
Laws governing the initiative process in Mississippi
- In Mississippi, citizens have the power to initiate indirect constitutional amendments, which means the initiative is first presented to the state legislature and then sent to voters.
- Mississippi adopted the initiative and referendum process in 1992, with voter approval of Amendment 8.
Amending the Mississippi Constitution
- Mississippi became a state in 1817. The current state constitution was ratified in 1890.
- The Mississippi Constitution can be amended in two ways:
- Legislatively referred constitutional amendment: The state Legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot, with a two-thirds vote in each legislative chamber.
- Indirect initiated constitutional amendment: Citizens can initiate constitutional amendments in Mississippi. However, the current Mississippi process for initiated amendments includes a signature distribution requirement that is based on five congressional districts. Mississippi now only has four congressional districts, resulting in the Mississippi Supreme Court ruling that the current requirements for ballot measures to qualify for the ballot cannot be met.[1]
Laws governing local ballot measures in Mississippi
- State law authorizes charter cities to use the initiative process to amend charters.
Signature requirements for ballot measures in Mississippi
- In Mississippi, the number of signatures required for ballot initiatives is tied to the number of votes cast in the preceding gubernatorial election.
- An initiated constitutional amendment requires a number of signatures equal to 12% of the votes cast for governor. However, the requirements cannot be met, according to the Mississippi Supreme Court, because the state has four congressional districts following reapportionment in 2001. As a result, the process remains part of the state constitution but cannot be carried out in practice.[1]
- Beginning with the day the sponsor receives the ballot title and summary, proponents have one year to circulate petitions and receive certification from the county circuit clerks. Signatures must be submitted to the secretary of state at least 90 days prior to the beginning of the regular session—which begins in the first week of January.
Laws governing recall in Mississippi
- Mississippi does not allow the recall of elected officials.
Laws governing state constitutional conventions in Mississippi
- The Mississippi Constitution is one of eight state constitutions with no mechanism for calling a convention.
Campaign finance requirements for Mississippi ballot measures
- In Mississippi, any group acting in support of or opposition to a ballot question is considered a political committee. Political committees must file a statement of organization with the secretary of state within 10 days of making expenditures or receiving contributions worth $200.
Changes to laws governing ballot measures in Mississippi
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
The Mississippi State Legislature did not pass legislation that changed the laws governing ballot measures in 2025.
See also
Footnotes
