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House approves law to place parties with 10% past vote atop presidential ballot in alphabetical order
Summary
The House adopted a committee substitute for House Bill 38 to move parties whose nominees received at least 10% of the prior presidential vote to the top of the presidential ballot in alphabetical order; the measure passed 93‑16.
The Mississippi House passed a committee substitute for House Bill 38 that changes the order of presidential nominations on the ballot. Under the measure, political parties whose nominees received at least 10% of the vote in the previous presidential election will be placed at the top of the ballot in alphabetical order; other parties and independents will follow.
Sponsors noted the change is intended to make it easier for voters — particularly older or first‑time voters — to find the major party nominees when ballots include multiple third‑party or independent candidates. The sponsor used a recent ballot as an example and explained that, under the new rule, major party nominees would be moved to the top section and ordered alphabetically by the nominee's name as printed, which in practice often places Democratic nominees ahead of Republicans if their last names are alphabetically earlier.
Committee discussion confirmed the bill applies specifically to presidential ballots. The sponsor and members debated whether the rule could advantage a particular party in a given election; the sponsor pointed out the rule is based on past vote share (10% threshold) and on alphabetical ordering rather than a fixed partisan preference.
The House adopted the committee substitute and passed the bill on a roll call, 93 yeas to 16 nays. The measure proceeds to the Senate.
