List of Mississippi ballot measures

This page provides a list of ballot measures that have appeared on the statewide ballot in Mississippi.

List of ballot measures by year

Measures are listed in reverse-chronological order, with the most recent and upcoming elections appearing first. Tables include brief summaries, relevant topics, and the election results for each measure.

2020

See also: Mississippi 2020 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
IndICA	Ballot Measure 1	Marijuana laws	After choosing "either" or "neither" version, voters then chose between Initiative 65 or Alternative 65A, regardless of their answer to the first question. Voters who chose "either" in the first question needed to answer the second question for their ballots to be valid. Voters who answered "neither" could but did not need to answer the second question for their ballots to be counted. Voting for Initiative 65 supported approving the medical marijuana amendment as provided by Initiative 65, which was designed to allow medical marijuana treatment for more than 20 specified qualifying conditions, allow individuals to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana at one time, and tax marijuana sales at the current state sales tax rate of 7%. Voting for Alternative 65A supported approving the legislature's alternative medical marijuana amendment, which would have restricted smoking marijuana to terminally ill patients; required pharmaceutical-grade marijuana products and treatment oversight by licensed physicians, nurses, and pharmacists; and left tax rates, possession limits, and certain other details to be set by the legislature.	a	816,107 (69%)	374,931 (31%)
LRCA	Ballot Measure 2	Runoff elections	Removes the requirement that a candidate for governor or state office receive the highest number of votes in a majority of the state's 122 House districts (the electoral vote requirement) and provides that if a candidate does not receive a majority vote of the people, they will proceed to a runoff election (instead of being chosen by a vote of the Mississippi House of Representatives)	a	984,788 (79%)	257,314 (21%)
LRSS	Ballot Measure 3	State flags and symbols	Asks voters to approve or reject a new state flag design created by the Commission to Redesign the Mississippi State Flag and which may not include the Confederate Battle Flag and that must include the words "In God We Trust"	a	943,918 (73%)	349,522 (27%)

2015

See also: Mississippi 2015 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
IndISS	Alternative 42	Constitutional rights; Public education governance	The Mississippi Public School Support Amendments, Initiative 42 and Alternative 42 were on the November 3, 2015 ballot as indirect initiated constitutional amendments, where both were defeated. The two amendments appeared as competing measures, after the Mississippi Legislature placed Alternative 42 on the ballot.	d
IndISS	Initiative 42	Public education funding	The Mississippi Public School Support Amendments, Initiative 42 and Alternative 42 were on the November 3, 2015 ballot as indirect initiated constitutional amendments, where both were defeated. The two amendments appeared as competing measures, after the Mississippi Legislature placed Alternative 42 on the ballot.	d

2014

See also: Mississippi 2014 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	HCR 30	Right to hunt and fish; Constitutional rights	Provide for a state constitutional right to hunt, fish, and trap, including traditional methods	a	524,423 (88%)	71,683 (12%)

2011

See also: Mississippi 2011 ballot measures

November 8

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
IndICA	Initiative 26	Abortion policy	Defines human personhood as beginning at the moment of fertilization	d	367,991 (42%)	500,459 (58%)
IndICA	Initiative 27	Voter ID policy		a	538,656 (62%)	329,105 (38%)
IndICA	Initiative 31	Eminent domain policy		a	638,527 (73%)	235,411 (27%)

2004

See also: Mississippi 2004 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Family-related policy; LGBTQ issues	Define marriage as between one man and one woman		957,104 (86%)	155,648 (14%)

2003

See also: Mississippi 2003 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Education; Administration of government	a	588,444 (85%)	102,020 (15%)

2002

See also: Mississippi 2002 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	State judiciary	d	243,618 (39%)	385,570 (61%)

2001

See also: Mississippi 2001 ballot measures

April 17

Type	Title	Subject	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRSS	State Flag Referendum	State flags and symbols	d	494,323 (64%)	273,359 (36%)

1999

See also: Mississippi 1999 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CICA	Measure 9	State legislative term limits	d	299,564 (45%)	364,644 (55%)

1998

See also: Mississippi 1998 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Initiative and referendum process	a	396,574 (77%)	120,638 (23%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Crime victims' rights	a	485,767 (93%)	35,147 (7%)

1995

See also: Mississippi 1995 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Result
CICA	Initiative 4	Judicial term limits; State legislative term limits; Executive official term limits; Local official term limits	d

1992

See also: Mississippi 1992 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 5	Mineral resources	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended. The amendment proposed to authorize the legislature to provided leases on liquid, solid or gaseous minerals found in or under sixteenth section lands or lands granted in lieu thereof may have terms coextensive with the operations to produce such minerals.	a
LRCA	Amendment 6	Executive official term limits	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended. The amendment proposed that no person who has been elected to the office of lieutenant governor for two consecutive terms shall be eligible to hold that office until one term has intervened.	a
LRCA	Amendment 8	Ballot measure process; Initiative and referendum process	Establishes the process for indirect initiated constitutional amendments in the state	a	592,536 (70%)	251,276 (30%)

1990

See also: Mississippi 1990 ballot measures

November 6

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Administration of government; Redistricting policy	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended. The amendment proposed that the each county would divided into more than five districts and eliminate the requirement that a member of the board of supervisors would need to be a resident freeholder in the district for which they are chosen.	d	147,370 (43%)	195,922 (57%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Corrections governance; Prison work regulations; Race and ethnicity issues	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via House Concurrent Resolution No. 99. It would amend Section 225 and repeal Section 223. The amendment proposed that the state create a nonprofit corporation to manage and operate the state prison industries program, which would make use of state prisoners in its operations. The amendment also proposes to remove the provision authorizing the separation of prisoners based on race.	a	200,300 (61%)	129,274 (39%)
LRCA	Amendment 3	Administration of government	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 506. The amendment proposed that the president of the Senate and the speaker of the state House of Representatives sign bills in open sessions; provides that the bill would be read in full prior to its passage, if requested; and allows the bill to be read in title rather than in full.	a	181,672 (56%)	145,645 (44%)
LRCA	Amendment 4	Veterans policy; Public assistance programs	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 519. The amendment proposed that the section regarding pension to Confederate soldiers and their widows be repealed.	a	193,443 (60%)	130,123 (40%)
LRCA	Amendment 5	Statehood	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 520. The amendment proposed that the section regarding the establishment of the state boundaries be repealed.	a	163,177 (52%)	153,539 (48%)
LRCA	Amendment 6	Administration of government	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 528. The amendment proposed that the provisions authorizing the state legislature to appoint U.S. Senators and the legislature to appoint presidential electors be removed.	a	169,509 (53%)	147,916 (47%)
LRCA	Amendment 7	Administration of government	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 562. The amendment proposed to repeal Section 137, requiring the governor and the state treasurer to publish and to verify the balance of the state treasury.	a	164,354 (50%)	162,579 (50%)

1987

See also: Mississippi 1987 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Property	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via House Concurrent Resolution No. 7. The amendment proposed to amend Section 270, which allows a person to bequeath all or a portion of their estate to a charitable, religious, education or civil institution, subject to any statutory rights of the survivors. It proposes to increase to 180 days the minimum time before the testator’s death that will containing such a bequest must be executed in order to be valid.	a	367,450 (73%)	135,049 (27%)
LRCA	Amendment 10	Business regulations	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 551. The amendment proposed to repeal: Section 189, which required that every corporate charter granted to a private corporation shall be recorded with the chancery’s office of the county in which the entity is located.	a	335,119 (70%)	145,427 (30%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Public education governance	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via House Concurrent Resolution No. 9. The amendment proposed to repeal Section 205, which allowed the legislature to abolish public schools in the state and authorizes the legislature to force counties and school districts to abolish their public schools. The amendment proposes Section 201 provided for the establishment, maintenance and support of free and public schools.	a	353,317 (71%)	142,211 (29%)
LRCA	Amendment 3	Race and ethnicity issues; Family-related policy	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via House Concurrent Resolution No. 13. The amendment proposed to repeal Section 263, which prohibited the marriage of a white person with an African American or a person having a certain percentage of African American blood.	a	264,064 (52%)	246,135 (48%)
LRCA	Amendment 4	Higher education funding; Higher education governance	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via House Concurrent Resolution No. 19. The amendment proposed to allow the legislature to appoint a trustee to the La Bauve Fund from the board of trustees of the state institutions of higher learning for the perpetuation of the fund.	a	341,692 (71%)	139,540 (29%)
LRCA	Amendment 5	State legislative elections	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via House Concurrent Resolution No. 41. The amendment proposed to amend: Section 41, which would require that candidates reside in the district in which they are seeking office.	a	382,632 (78%)	106,456 (22%)
LRCA	Amendment 6	Criminal trials; Bail policy	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 534. The amendment proposed to amend: Section 29, which would provide that county or circuit court judges may deny bail for offenses punishable by imprisonment for 20 years or more, when the proof is evident or the presumption that the release of the person would pose a danger to other persons.	a	394,100 (80%)	99,521 (20%)
LRCA	Amendment 7	Bond issues	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 548. The amendment proposed to amend: Section 196, which would prohibit transportation corporations from issuing stocks or bonds without receiving money, property or labor in return. The amendment would also prohibit the fictitious increase of stock or indebtedness.	a	344,430 (72%)	134,220 (28%)
LRCA	Amendment 8	Business regulations	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 549. The amendment proposed to amend: Section 178, which would delete the provision that charters for private for-profit corporations shall not be granted for than 99 years and would delete the provision which provided for taxing the increased value of the property and the franchise of a corporation with a charter of longer than 99 years.	a	333,905 (70%)	142,954 (30%)
LRCA	Amendment 9	Business regulations	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 550. The amendment proposed to repeal: Section 194, which required that every corporate stockholder shall have a number of votes equal to the number of shares they hold for as many directors as there are to be elected.	a	336,138 (70%)	141,153 (30%)

1986

See also: Mississippi 1986 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Public education funding	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via House Concurrent Resolution No. 35. The amendment proposed to establish an educational trust fund in the state treasury. The income from said trust would be appropriated by the legislature only for elementary, secondary, vocational or technical education. Severance taxes on oil and gas production from state-owned minerals, certain other income from state-owned oil and gas properties and funds from certain other sources would be paid into the educational trust fund.	a	369,367 (82%)	79,854 (18%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Public employee retirement funds	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 518. The amendment proposed to place in trust all assets and income of the Public Employee’s Retirement System and the Highway Safety Patrol Retirement System for the exclusive purpose of paying administrative expenses and providing benefits to eligible members of the two systems.	a	402,642 (85%)	69,041 (15%)
LRCA	Amendment 3	State executive official measures	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via House Concurrent Resolution No. 5. The amendment proposed to limit the governor to two terms in office.	a	347,145 (75%)	112,781 (25%)
LRCA	Amendment 4	Executive official term limits	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 513. The amendment proposed to remove term limits for the state treasurer.	a	274,929 (61%)	177,661 (39%)
LRCA	Amendment 5	Administration of government; Property	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 537. The amendment proposed would authorize the legislature to extend the maximum lease period of 25 to 40 years for sixteenth section lands (land held in trust by the state) that are leased for ground rental.	a	312,581 (70%)	135,148 (30%)

June 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Taxes	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via House Concurrent Resolution No. 41. The amendment proposed to amend: Section 112, which would establish assessment ratios for revised property classes and that the assessment ratio of one class of property would not exceed three times the assessment ratio of other classes of property. The legislature may limit or deny county taxation on nuclear power facilities.	a	103,365 (51%)	100,647 (49%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Civil service	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via House Concurrent Resolution No. 63. The amendment proposed to amend: Section 109, which would prohibit a public officer, member of legislature or public employee from having any interest in any contract with the governmental level of which he/she is a member for up to a year after said person has left their position. Such interest could influence the performance of his/her official duties.	d	75,231 (37%)	128,528 (63%)

1984

See also: Mississippi 1984 ballot measures

November 6

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Administration of government	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended: Section 109. The amendment proposed to prohibit a public employee from using their official position within the government for gain in government contracts. The amendment also proposes to repeal Section 107, in which it is stated that all stationary, printing paper and fuel used by the legislature and other branches of government be furnished under contract and that no government employee, elected, hired or appointed, shall have interest in the contracted entity. The amendment also repeals Section 210, which states that no public employee shall be interested in the sale or profit of any books, apparatus or furniture to be used in public schools.	d	251,742 (42%)	348,999 (58%)

1982

See also: Mississippi 1982 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Public education governance	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 506. The amendment proposed an amendment to Sections 202 and 203. It proposed that the state superintendent of public education would be appointed by the board of education and that the superintendent would be chief administrator of the Department of Education.	a	219,966 (52%)	203,006 (48%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	State executive elections	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 517. The amendment proposed that the secretary of state provide the results of the gubernatorial election to the speaker of the state House of Representatives on the first day of the next ensuing session, so that it shall be ascertained on the same day who shall be governor.	a	282,401 (69%)	125,920 (31%)
LRCA	Amendment 3	Taxes	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 519. The amendment proposed that Section 112 be amended to provide for the classification of property for ad valorem tax purposes and for the legislature to establish assessment ratios for four classifications of property.	a	279,233 (64%)	157,717 (36%)
LRCA	Amendment 4	State judiciary	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended via House Concurrent Resolution No. 23. The amendment proposed that Section 152 be amended to establish not more than 20 circuit and chancery districts and that the legislature must establish criteria by which the number of judges in each district shall be determined. Districting will rely on the federal census.	a	252,340 (64%)	143,754 (36%)

1979

See also: Mississippi 1979 ballot measures

November 6

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Redistricting policy	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended: Section 152. The amendment proposed that the legislature would reapportion itself in the second year following the 1980 census and every ten years thereafter.	a	223,799 (77%)	68,380 (23%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	State judiciary	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended: Article 6. The amendment proposed that the legislature would establish a commission on judicial performance.	a	223,572 (77%)	65,409 (23%)

1978

See also: Mississippi 1978 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Dueling bans	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended: Section 19. The amendment proposed to repeal the prohibition on dueling.	a	219,196 (75%)	71,194 (25%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Transportation	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended: Section 187. The amendment proposed to repeal the requirement that a train, if passing within three miles of the county seat, it must pass through the county seat.	a	218,295 (76%)	70,102 (24%)
LRCA	Amendment 3	Census policy	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended: Section 105. The amendment proposed to repeal the requirement that the state perform a census every 10 years.	a	211,699 (75%)	69,625 (25%)
LRCA	Amendment 4	Race and ethnicity issues; Public education governance	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended: Section 207. The amendment proposed to repeal the requirement that schools be racially separate.	a	201,004 (70%)	85,738 (30%)
LRCA	Amendment 5	Administration of government	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended: Section 106. The amendment proposed to that any person could be state librarian.	a	212,001 (74%)	73,814 (26%)
LRCA	Amendment 6	Civil trials; Criminal trials; Constitutional rights	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended: Section 27. The amendment proposed to that a defendant represented by counsel may waive indictment.	a	206,938 (74%)	72,038 (26%)

1976

See also: Mississippi 1976 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	State judiciary	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended: Section 168. The amendment proposed to that the Supreme Court judges would appoint the Supreme Court clerk.	a	253,185 (58%)	184,977 (42%)

1975

See also: Mississippi 1975 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 2	Literacy, poll tax, and property voting requirements	a	9,952 (69%)	4,410 (31%)
LRCA	Amendment 3	Literacy, poll tax, and property voting requirements	a	8,121 (65%)	4,465 (35%)

1972

See also: Mississippi 1972 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Jury rules	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended: Section 264. The amendment proposed that a grand jury remain empaneled between terms of the Circuit Court.	a	284,825 (79%)	75,712 (21%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Constitutional rights	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended: Section 241. The amendment proposed that the voting age be set at 18.	a	290,007 (80%)	73,776 (20%)

1968

See also: Mississippi 1968 ballot measures

June 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Constitutional rights	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended: House Concurrent Resolution No. 5. The amendment addressed residency voter requirements.	a	136,846 (70%)	59,888 (30%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Administration of government	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended: House Concurrent Resolution No. 36. The amendment addressed annual legislative sessions.	a	98,842 (51%)	94,461 (49%)
LRCA	Amendment 3	Water	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended: House Concurrent Resolution No. 71. The amendment addressed mineral facilities navigable streams.	a	138,935 (73%)	52,499 (27%)
LRCA	Amendment 4	State and local government budgets, spending, and finance	The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended: Section 115. The amendment proposed that the state’s fiscal year would begin on the first day of July and end on the thirtieth day of June; the auditor of public accounts and treasurer shall compile and publish a full report showing the transactions of their respective offices on or before the thirty-first day of December of each year for the preceding fiscal year. The state and its agencies shall not incur a bonded indebtedness in excess of one-and-half times the sum of all the funds received by it for all purposes during any one of the preceding four fiscal years, whichever year might be highest.	d	194,245 (38%)	315,244 (62%)

1954

See also: Mississippi 1954 ballot measures

December 21

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Allow Legislature to Abolish Public Schools and Provide Funds for Non-Public Education Amendment	State legislative authority; Public education governance; Race and ethnicity issues; School choice policy	Allow the legislature to abolish public schools, dispose of school property if schools are abolished, and use public funds to aid "educable children... to secure an education"	a	106,832 (70%)	46,095 (30%)

1920

See also: Mississippi 1920 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Women's Suffrage Amendment	Sex and gender issues; Women's suffrage	Provides for women's suffrage in state constitution	d	39,186 (62%)	24,296 (38%)

1914

See also: Mississippi 1914 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Initiative and Referendum Amendment	Initiative and referendum process	Establish an initiative and referendum process in Mississippi		19,118 (69%)	8,718 (31%)

1912

See also: Mississippi 1912 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Initiative and Referendum Amendment	Initiative and referendum process	Establish an initiative and referendum process in Mississippi	d	25,153 (65%)	13,383 (35%)

See also

• 2025 ballot measures