Gaming
All Initiatives   
Subject Matter:
Gaming  (See Comments)

Original Filing:
N/A

Proposed Ballot Title:
Should the Mississippi Constitution be amended to prohibit gambling and gaming, including lotteries?

Proposed 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. The Legislature could not propose a repeal of the amendment except after four years from the date of its enactment, and upon every fourth year thereafter.

Initiative Petition:
N/A

Sponsor:
Elizabeth Stoner
Address:
Route 3 Box 246
Eupora MS 39744

Phone: (601) 258-4477

Status:
Ruled unconstitutional by Hinds County Circuit Judge James E. Graves, Jr., August 14, 1998

Town Meeting Location:
N/A

Initiative Information:
The official ballot title and ballot summary for an initiative measure are prepared by the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office. Initiative measures are valid for one year. During this one-year period, a petition may be circulated to place the measure on the next statewide general election ballot to allow the voters of Mississippi to determine whether the measure should become a part of the Mississippi Constitution. According to Mississippi law, for an initiative measure to be placed on the ballot, a minimum of 106,190 certified signatures must be gathered, with at least 21,238 certified signatures from each of the five congressional districts as they existed in the year 2000. This required number of signatures represents twelve percent (12%) of the total number of votes cast for Governor in the last gubernatorial general election. Signatures must be certified by county circuit clerks as belonging to registered voters in Mississippi. A completed petition should be filed with Secretary of State, together with a filing fee of $500.00. For more information on the initiative process in Mississippi, consult the Mississippi Constitution of 1890, Section 273, and Mississippi Code Annotated §§ 23-17-1 through 23-17-61 (1972).

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