These bills were among many filed this year in order to make voting safer and easier during the pandemic. With the exception of one bill that allowed for limited early voting, all these bills died because legislative leaders didn’t support them. These bills are still dead despite the fact that most states have passed strong measures in 2020 to increase early voting and ensure safety during the pandemic. The House filed two bills this week, one by Senator David Blount (D-Jackson), and three other members. These would allow for no-excuse, early voting in circuit clerks offices to people who don’t want to go to the crowded precincts expected to be on Election Day. Reps. Jansen Owye, R.Poplarville, Kent McCarty (R-Hattiesburg), and Shanda Yates (D-Jackson) jointly filed the legislation. “This year’s election will be incredibly important and it is likely to be one the most popular in state history.” Owen stated that we are also facing an extremely dangerous health crisis, the COVID-19 epidemic. “This bill aims reduce the number voters at the precincts for Election Day, stymy any potential spread of coronavirus and allow voters to vote safely while maintaining the integrity of our electoral process.” However, the Legislature was not in session late Thursday. This week will likely be the last time lawmakers have to look at expanding voting opportunities prior to the Nov. 3 general elections. Rep. Jim Beckett (R-Bruce), House Elections Chair, stated that there is not enough support for such legislation to be considered this year. He stated that there would need to be consensus among the circuit clerks as well as election commissioners and legislators. Sources close to the Senate leadership stated that they don’t believe there is an interest in the legislation being passed by the chamber. Mississippi has done less than other states to increase early voting and vote-by-mail during the pandemic. Mississippi was given a D rating by the Brookings Institute for 2020, based on its monitoring of states’ mail-in voting efforts during the pandemic. According to their scorecard, 42 states had more mail-in voting laws than Mississippi. Mississippi had some of most restrictive early voting laws in America, even before the pandemic. Only those who will be out of their home on Election Day, people over 65 years old and persons with disabilities can vote early in person or via mail. A majority of the states had no-excuse, early voting was allowed in most cases, except Mississippi. According to a study by the National Notary Association, Mississippi has the most stringent requirements for absentee voting in the country. To be eligible to vote by postal mail, you must have both the application and the ballot notarized. Blount’s Senate proposal, filed this week, would remove the 2020 requirement that documents be notarized. Blount stated that the notary requirements are particularly problematic during the pandemic. This is because people with pre-existing medical conditions might not be able to travel to vote in person, or find a notary. Blount also said that it might be harder to find a notary during the pandemic because many banks, where notaries are often found, have limited hours or limit the number of customers. In both the 2016-2017 sessions, bills were passed by the state House that would allow all Mississippians to vote in person. The bills were defeated in each year without being reviewed by the Senate Elections Committee. The House leadership failed to make an effort to pass any early voting bills this year, despite the fact that the pandemic was raging and many people were concerned about large crowds on Election Day. The House did, however, pass an earlier proposal to allow early voting for those who are under medical quarantine or taking care of someone in quarantine. To expand Mississippi’s early voting laws, lawsuits were filed in federal and state courts. The Mississippi Supreme Court seems to have narrowed the definition of who is allowed to vote early in the state lawsuit. The majority opinion of the state Supreme Court stated that a pre-existing condition does not automatically make a voter more vulnerable to absentee voting. The federal lawsuit remains unresolved. This week, lawmakers are back in session to discuss how the state spends federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Security Act funds. Friday’s work was to be completed by the lawmakers to transfer federal COVID-19 relief money that they had allocated in June to small businesses and other programs. On Thursday evening, lawmakers were trying to transfer at least $69 Million that was earmarked earlier in the year for small business grants or health care programs. However, it remains unredirected to programs to assist landlords who are unable to collect residential and commercial rents during a freeze on evictions due to pandemic. They also plan to support hospital ICU operations, farmers (including sweet potato and poultry growers) and veterans homes.