HB 1446

AN ACT TO BE KNOWN AS THE "ROBERT G. CLARK, JR., VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF MISSISSIPPI"; TO DECLARE CERTAIN FINDINGS; TO DEFINE CERTAIN TERMS; TO PROHIBIT POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS AND STATE AGENCIES FROM ENGAGING IN VOTER SUPPRESSION; TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI VOTING RIGHTS COMMISSION AND PROVIDE FOR ITS MEMBERSHIP; TO REQUIRE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTAIN POLICIES BY POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS TO BE PRECLEARED BY THE COMMISSION; TO ESTABLISH PROTECTIONS FOR LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT INDIVIDUALS AND VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES; TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH, IN AGREEMENT WITH CERTAIN STATE UNIVERSITIES, THE MISSISSIPPI VOTING AND ELECTIONS DATABASE AND INSTITUTE; TO PROHIBIT ACTS OF INTIMIDATION, DECEPTION AND OBSTRUCTION THAT AFFECT VOTERS' RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS; TO REQUIRE POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS TO PROVIDE ADVANCE NOTICE OF CHANGES TO ELECTION POLICIES; TO REQUIRE LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE STATE AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS TO BE LIBERALLY CONSTRUED; TO AUTHORIZE AGGRIEVED INDIVIDUALS AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO BRING ACTIONS FOR VIOLATIONS UNDER THE ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.