JACKSON, Miss. - Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves signed a bill March 22 that will set tighter restrictions on who can gather other people's absentee ballots. The governor said the law, which takes effect July 1, will ban political operatives from collecting/handling large numbers of absentee ballots. He described the practice as “ballot harvesting.” “This process is an open invitation for fraud and abuse, and can occur without the voter ever even knowing,” Reeves said in a video statement. Opponents say the restrictions could hurt candidates, campaign workers, nursing home employees or people who make good-faith efforts to help people obtain and mail absentee ballots. “This bill will make all of you criminals if you go and assist anybody with getting an absentee ballot," Democratic Rep. Willie Bailey of Greenville told House members during a March 7 debate. Republican-led states have tightened rules on voting by mail since the 2020 presidential election. Unlike some states, Mississippi already restricts reasons people may vote by absentee ballot. The absentee ballots are available to Mississippi voters who are 65+; have a temporary/permanent physical disability; a voter's caretaker; or any voter away from home on election day, including college students. The new law takes effect weeks before the state's Aug. 8 elections. The law sets a short list of people who can “collect and transmit” a ballot. The list includes U.S. Postal Service employees or other mail carriers; any family/household member or caregiver. Any violation will be punishable by up to a year in a county jail; $3,000 fine or both. (The AP 03/22/23) Mississippi sets tighter restrictions on absentee ballots | Mississippi | wtva.com
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