§ Miss. Code § 23-15-267Primary election ballot boxes; penalty for failure to deliver ballot boxes

(1) The ballot boxes provided by the regular commissioners of election in each county shall
be used in primary elections, and the county executive committees shall distribute them to the
voting precincts of the county before the time for opening the polls, in the same manner, as near
as may be, as that provided for in general elections.
(2) If an adjournment shall take place after the polls are open and before all votes are
counted, the ballot box shall be securely locked so as to prevent the admission into it or the
taking of anything from it during the time of adjournment; and the box shall be kept by one of
the managers, and the key by another of the managers, and the manager having the box shall
carefully keep it, and neither undertake to open it himself or permit it to be done, or to permit
any person to have access to it during the time of adjournment. The box shall not be removed
from the polling building or place after the polls are open until the count is completed if as many
as three (3) electors qualified to vote at the election object.
(3) After each election, the ballot boxes of those provided by the regular commissioner of
election shall be delivered, with the keys thereof immediately and as soon thereafter as possible,
and without delay to the clerk of the circuit court of the county.
(4) (a) If it is eligible under Section 23-15-266, the county executive committee may enter
into a written agreement with the circuit clerk or the county election commission authorizing the
circuit clerk or the county election commission to perform any of the duties required of the
county executive committee pursuant to this section. Any agreement entered into pursuant to this
subsection shall be signed by the chairman of the county executive committee and the circuit
clerk or the chairman of the county election commission, as appropriate. The county executive
committee shall notify the State Executive Committee and the Secretary of State of the existence
of such agreement.
(b) If it is eligible under Section 23-15-266, the municipal executive committee may enter
into a written agreement with the municipal clerk or the municipal election commission
authorizing the municipal clerk or the municipal election commission to perform any of the
duties required of the municipal executive committee pursuant to this section. Any agreement
entered into pursuant to this subsection shall be signed by the chairman of the municipal
executive committee and the municipal clerk or the chairman of the municipal election
commission, as appropriate. The municipal executive committee shall notify the State Executive
Committee and the Secretary of State of the existence of such agreement.
(5) The person, or persons, whose duty it is to comply with the provisions of this section and
who shall fail, or neglect, from any cause, to deliver said boxes or any of them as herein
provided shall, upon conviction, be fined not less than Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) and be
imprisoned in the county jail of the residence of the person, or persons, who violates any of the
provisions of this section, for a period of not less than thirty (30) days or more than six (6)
months, and fined not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).