INITIATIVE MEASURE NO. 12
SPONSOR: Elizabeth Stoner, Route 3 Box 246, Eupora, MS 39744;
601-258-4477
SUBJECT MATTER: Gaming
BALLOT TITLE: Should the Mississippi Constitution be amended to prohibit
gambling and gaming, including lotteries?
BALLOT SUMMARY: This amendment would prohibit gambling and gaming,
including lotteries, within the State of Mississippi. Charitable bingo and
raffles for nonprofit civic, educational, wildlife conservation or religious
organizations are exempt from this prohibition. Existing gaming establishments
would have two years from the effective date of this amendment to cease
activities. This amendment could not be repealed except after four years from
the date of its enactment, and upon every fourth year thereafter.
ORIGINAL FILING: June 12, 1998
STATUS: Ruled invalid by Hinds County Circuit Judge E. J. Russell, July
24, 1998.
Initiative Information
The official ballot title and ballot summary for an initiative measure are
prepared by the Mississippi Attorney General's Office. Initiative petitions are
valid for one year. According to Mississippi law, for an initiative petition to
be sufficient a minimum of 91,673 certified signatures must be gathered; with at
least 18,355 certified signatures from each of the five congressional districts.
The number of signatures required represents 12% of the total number of votes
cast for Governor in the last gubernatorial general election. All signatures on
the petition must be certified by county Circuit Clerks as those of registered
Mississippi voters.
For more information on the initiative process in Mississippi, consult the
Mississippi Constitution of 1890, Section 273; and Miss. Code Ann., Sections
23-17-1 through 23-17-61 (1972).