{"data":{"id":"us-ms/miss.-code-ann.-23-17-37","jurisdiction":"us-ms","citation":"Miss. Code Ann. § 23-17-37","heading":"Miss. Code Ann. § 23-17-37","body":"If an initiative measure proposed to the Legislature has been rejected by the Legislature and an alternative measure is passed by the Legislature in lieu thereof, the serial numbers and ballot titles of both such measures shall be printed on the official ballots so that a voter can express separately two (2) preferences: First, by voting for the approval of either measure or against both measures, and, secondly, by voting for one measure or the other measure. If the majority of those voting on the first issue is against both measures, then both measures fail, but in that case the votes on the second issue nevertheless shall be carefully counted and made public. If a majority voting on the first issue is for the approval of either measure, then the measure receiving a majority of the votes on the second issue and also receiving not less than forty percent (40%) of the total votes cast at the election at which the measure was submitted for approval shall be law. Any person who votes against both measures on the first issue may vote but shall not be required to vote for any of the measures on the second issue in order for the ballot to be valid. Substantially the following form shall be a compliance with this section:\n\nINITIATED BY PETITION AND ALTERNATIVE BY LEGISLATURE\n\nInitiative Measure No. __________, entitled (here insert the ballot title of the initiative measure).\n\nAlternative Measure No.__________ A, entitled (here insert the ballot title of the alternative measure).\n\nVOTE FOR APPROVAL OF EITHER, OR AGAINST BOTH:\n\nFOR APPROVAL OF EITHER Initiative No. ___\n\nOR Alternative No. ___ A․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․\n\n․․․․․․( )\n\nAGAINST BOTH initiative No. ___\n\nAND Alternative No. ___ A․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․\n\n․․․․․․( )\n\nAND VOTE FOR ONE:\n\nFOR Initiative Measure No. ___․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․\n\n․․․․․․( )\n\nFOR Alternative Measure No. ___ A․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․\n\n․․․․․․( )","path":["MS Code","Title 23"],"source_url":"https://legislature.ms.gov/","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:17Z","sha256":"0fcf85b8ddb3269a628f1d8a4275b887e9d435d78cee484a1b342733367b2710","source_id":"us-ms","stale":false,"prev":"us-ms/miss.-code-ann.-23-17-35","next":"us-ms/miss.-code-ann.-23-17-39"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}