The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Feb. 21, 2025
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
Mississippi has one of the country’s worst records for protecting voting rights and advancing democracy reforms. So when pro-voter bills emerge from the state house and senate like in-person early voting and the ability to cure a mismatched absentee signature, democracy advocates take notice.
Mississippi is one of only three states without some form of in-person early voting, along with Alabama & New Hampshire. The Mississippi Free Press reports that February 12th, the Mississippi Senate passed SB 2654, allowing 15 days of early voting, ending the Saturday before the election at noon. The Republican-sponsored bill passed 39 to 12, but even if the House advances it, it may still be vetoed by Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, who accused the bill’s sponsor of making the state’s elections less secure.
The Mississippi House also took some positive steps. HB 1419 prohibits moving or closing a polling place location within 60 days of an election, sometimes used as a voter suppression tactic.
HB 163 sets rules for absentee ballots where the signature on file doesn’t match the signed outer ballot envelope, and would give a voter the chance to “cure” the problem. And HB 288 would make each county’s five election commissioners nonpartisan positions. Candidates would be prohibited from campaigning based on party affiliation. All three bills now move to the Senate.
We have the text of the bills and local reporting at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Mississippi Free Press – Mississippi Senate Passes Early Voting, Felony Disenfranchisement Bill
Mississippi Legislature – House Bill 1419
Mississippi Legislature – House Bill 163
Mississippi Legislature – House Bill 288
The Marshall Project – (2024) How Mississippi’s Jim Crow Laws Still Haunt Black Voters Today
Democracy Docket – (2023) Stripping Away The Power of a Vote In Mississippi
Groups Taking Action:
League of Women Voters MS, Disability Rights Mississippi, ACLU Mississippi
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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