SB 2587 Mississippi Senate · 2026 Regular Session

In-person absentee voting; to amend the process of.

Mississippi's SB 2587 creates the "In-Person Absentee Voting Act," establishing a 22-day in-person absentee voting period (beginning 22 days before an election and ending at 12:00 p.m. on the Saturday before election day). The bill removes the requirement for absentee ballots to be placed in envelopes when cast in person and mandates extended voting hours during the last full week before elections, including until 7:00 p.m. and on two Saturdays. Voters must present photo ID at their county registrar's office (or an adjacent government building) during specified hours, with notice posted in three public locations 8 days prior. This directly affects Mississippi voters who qualify for in-person absentee voting due to specific excuses like military service, residency, or other approved reasons.

Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 17, 2026 Last action Mar 3, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Committee Substitute → Current version · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Mississippi's absentee voting laws to create a new 'In-Person Absentee Voting' period and expand mail-in ballot access. The changes clarify procedures for voters who cannot vote on election day, update eligibility criteria for various excuses, and modify how ballots are processed and challenged. Some provisions were reorganized and renumbered during the legislative process.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of absentee voting by adding a new 'in-person absentee voting period' and clarifying procedures for both in-person and mail-in absentee voting. It also updates the Mississippi Code sections governing absentee voting applications and ballot processing.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a new 'in-person absentee voting period' allowing voters to cast ballots in person at registrar offices during a specific timeframe before election day.

Modified excuse categories for absentee voting, replacing some specific excuses with broader language about residing outside the county during the in-person absentee voting period.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that registrars maintain affidavits for in-person absentee votes in secure locations per Secretary of State rules.

Changed language from 'excused voting' to 'absentee voting' throughout the bill for consistency.

Updated procedures for challenging voter qualifications at registrar offices, limiting each political party to one representative present.

Modified ballot processing procedures to require simultaneous tabulation of in-person absentee votes with other election day votes.

TECHNICAL

Reorganized and renumbered sections of the bill during legislative review, with some provisions moved from earlier to later sections.

DEFINITION

Updated application forms and definitions to distinguish between 'mail-in absentee voting' and 'in-person absentee voting' categories.

As Introduced → Committee Substitute · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill creates a new 'In-Person Absentee Voting Act' allowing Mississippi voters to cast ballots in person at their local registrar's office during a specific period before each election, rather than only by mail. The bill expands eligibility for absentee voting to include additional categories such as emergency response providers, incarcerated voters, and those working on election day, while removing the requirement for specific absentee ballot envelopes. It also establishes new procedures for voting in person, including identification requirements, witness signatures for disabled voters, and rules for ballot challenges.

Scope change

The bill significantly expands the scope of absentee voting from primarily mail-in ballots to include a new in-person voting option at registrar offices, applicable to all primary, general, runoff, special, and municipal elections for public office.

ELIGIBILITY

New in-person absentee voting period established starting 22 days before each election and ending at 12:00 p.m. on the Saturday before election day.

Expanded list of valid excuses for absentee voting to include emergency response providers, incarcerated voters, and those working on election day.

REQUIREMENT

Repealed Section 23-15-659 which required specific absentee ballot envelope formats, removing the envelope requirement for in-person absentee voters.

Added new application form requirements including witness signatures for disabled voters and bold print warnings about penalties for false statements.

Changed absentee ballot processing to require simultaneous announcement with election day results and removal of OMR voting machine placement requirement.

Established new rules for ballot challenges during in-person absentee voting, allowing political parties to challenge voter qualifications at registrar offices.

DEFINITION

Created new definitions for 'Election' and 'Polling place' to include the in-person absentee voting period.

TIMELINE

Extended registrar office hours during the last full week before elections to accommodate in-person voters, including lunch periods and until 7:00 p.m.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 13, 2026

How they voted

38–12

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 52

Feb 13, 2026

D Democratic18

17 Yea 1 Nay

94% Yea

R Republican34

21 Yea 11 Nay 2

61% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Referred To Apportionment and Elections

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Introduced

Transmitted To House

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed As Amended

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Amended

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub

upper

Jan 19, 2026

Committee

Referred To Elections

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor