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Senate approves no‑excuse early voting on limited schedule after floor fight over logistics
Summary
The Mississippi Senate approved a bill to allow no‑excuse in‑person early voting for a defined period before Election Day, replacing the prior longer in‑person absentee-with-excuse window. Debate focused on operational impact for county clerks, turnout concentration and counting on election night.
The Mississippi Senate on the floor approved a measure changing the state’s in‑person voting window from the long, excuse‑based absentee period to a shorter no‑excuse early‑voting schedule.
Lede: Senate Bill 26‑54, carried on the floor by Senator(s) England and others, replaces the existing 45‑day in‑person absentee-with‑excuse period with a no‑excuse in‑person early voting window of 15 days (weekdays plus two Saturdays), and requires ballots cast during that early‑voting period to be printed and scanned so results can be tabulated on election night.
Nut graf: Backers said the change improves voter convenience — especially for people who work nonstandard hours — and increases the number of ballots counted on election night. Opponents warned the move would concentrate turnout into a…
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