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Mississippi 2016 ballot measures
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| 2016 Mississippi Ballot Measures | |
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| 2016 U.S. State Ballot Measures | |
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| Overview | |
| Election results | |
| Scorecard | |
| Tuesday Count | |
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| Initiatives filed | |
| Year-end analysis | |
| Part 2: Campaigns | |
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| Media editorials | |
| Part 3: Finances | |
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| Signature costs | |
| Ballot Measure Monthly | |
| Signature requirements | |
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Zero ballot measures were certified to appear on the Mississippi ballot on November 8, 2016.
Mississippi allows citizen initiatives in the form of indirectly initiated constitutional amendments. Signature requirements for initiated petitions are determined by calculating 12 percent of the votes cast for governor in the most recent election. At least 86,185 valid signatures were required to put indirect initiated constitutional amendments before voters in 2016. The deadline to file petitions for 2016 was October 7, 2015.
The state legislative session ran from January 5 through April 21, 2016, during which time the Mississippi Legislature was able to place legislatively referred constitutional amendments on the ballot. The session was scheduled to end on May 8, 2016, but the legislature adjourned early. The legislature can put a proposed amendment on the ballot upon a two-thirds majority vote in both the legislative chambers. The number of those voting in favor must also be equal to at least a majority of the members elected to each house. The amendment must then be approved by a majority of voters.
In late 2015 and early 2016, four measures were filed that address the Mississippi state flag. Three measures, Initiative 54, 56 and 58, were designed to constitutionalize the state flag that was adopted in 1894. One measure, Initiative 55, was written to require that all Confederacy symbols be removed from the state flag. One or more of these measures could appear on the 2018 ballot.
Historical facts
- Between 1995 and 2015, 14 measures have appeared on the ballot in Mississippi.
- Since 1995, there has been an average of about one measure on the ballot in even and odd numbered years.
- Between 1995 and 2015, 7 of 14 measures, or 50 percent, were approved and 7 of 14 measures, or 50 percent, were defeated.
Not on ballot
The deadline for submitting signatures for 2016 initiatives in Mississippi was October 7, 2015. Signatures for none of the filed initiatives were submitted. Since initiatives in Mississippi can be circulated for a year, however, eight initiatives filed in 2015 remained active with the potential to qualify for the 2018 election ballot. Mississippi did not hold any state ballot measure elections in 2017.
The 2016 regular session of the Mississippi State Legislature ended on April 21, 2016. The legislature did not put any ballot measures on the 2016 ballot.
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IndICA | Veto Referendum Amendment, Initiative 44 | Direct Democracy | Grants citizens the power of veto referendum | 
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| IndICA | Voucher System Amendment, Initiative 45 | School Choice | Empowers the legislature to develop a system of issuing vouchers for school choice |
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| IndICA | "Confederate Heritage" Amendment, Initiative 46 | History | Establishes Christianity as official religion, English as official language, and April as "Confederate Heritage Month" |
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| IndICA | Marijuana Legalization Amendment, Initiative 48 | Marijuana | Legalizes recreational marijuana for those at least 21 years old |
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External links
- Initiative Process in Mississippi, an overview from the Secretary of State
- Filed initiatives
See also
- 2016 ballot measures
- List of Mississippi ballot measures
- Laws governing ballot measures in Mississippi
- Campaign finance requirements for Mississippi ballot measures
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