Mississippi Advisory Opinions December 18, 1991: 19911218 (December 18, 1991)

Advisory Opinion Text

Honorable Ken Harper

913 Crawford Street

P.O. Box 1186

Vicksburg, Mississippi 39181

Re: Election Expenses

Dear Mr. Harper:

Attorney General Mike Moore has received your request for an opinion and has assigned it to me for research and reply. Your letter includes a copy of a statement of expenses incurred in the recent primary elections by a political party along with a request that the board of supervisors pay for those expenses. The statement includes amounts for “Pollwatcher, Registers, Pollworkers, Recap, Signs, How to ... Postage, Primary Bookl”. You ask whether the county has the authority to pay those expenses.

In response, I refer to § 23-15-301 of the Mississippi Code which states as follows:

“All the expenses of printing the tickets or primary election ballots, for necessary stationery, and for paying the managers, clerks and returning officer of every primary election authorized by this chapter held in any county shall be paid by the board of supervisors of such county out of the general funds of the county, but such officers of primary elections shall receive only such compensation as is authorized by Section 23-15-227 to be paid managers, clerks and returning officer for like services in holding elections thereunder. [Etc.]”

It is our opinion that this statute does not authorize any payment to a political party or its executive committee other than those listed, i.e., the expenses of printing tickets or ballots, necessary stationery, and of paying the managers, clerks and returning officer.

Please contact us if you have further questions regarding this matter.

Very truly yours,

Mike Moore, Attorney General.

Mike Lanford, Special Assistant Attorney General.

ATTACHMENT I

December 3, 1991

Honorable Mike Moore

Attorney General of the State of Mississippi

P.O. Box 220

Jackson, MS 39205

Dear General Moore:

Attached is correspondence which the Chancery Clerk of Warren County has received from the Mississippi Republican Party requesting payment from Warren County for expenses as reflected in the correspondence. Warren County pays the local expenses of the elections directly and I am uncertain as to whether or not the County has authority to make the payment requested. I would appreciate an opinion from your office as to whether or not Warren County has authority to make the payment requested in the attached correspondence.

Sincerely yours,

Ken Harper, ATTORNEY WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

ATTACHMENT II

October 29, 1991

Mr. Oren D. Bailess

Chancery Clerk, Warren County

P.O. Box 351

Vicksburg, MS 39181

Dear Mr. Bailess:

I am writing on behalf of the Mississippi Republican Party State Executive Committee to get the reimbursement due the Republican Party in connection with the 1991 Republican primaries.

Enclosed is a copy of Mississippi Code 1972 Annotated Section 23-15-301 which authorizes and directs the several counties to make this payment.

Also enclosed is a copy of a breakdown which distributes the total amount among the various counties.

Please remit payment of the amount due from your County to the letterhead address.

Very truly yours,

Michael S. Allred General Counsel

1991 Primary
Pollwatcher	485.75
Registers	848.52
Pollworkers	2495.1
Recap	472.75
Signs	154.23
Postage	902
Primary Book 1	620.23
	5978.58

	County	# precincts	Pollwatcher	Registers	Pollworkers	Recap	Signs	How to	...Postage	Total Per County
1	Adams	20	$4.74	$8.28	$24.34	$4.61	$1.50	$6.05	11.03	$60.56
2	Alcorn	5	1.18	2.07	6.09	1.15	0.38	1.51	11.03	23.41
3	Amite	21	4.98	8.69	25.56	4.84	1.58	6.35	11.03	63.03
4	Attala	21	4.98	8.69	25.56	4.84	1.58	6.35	11.03	63.03
5	Benton	11	2.61	4.55	13.39	2.54	0.83	3.33	11.03	38.27
6	Bolivar	21	4.98	8.69	25.56	4.84	1.58	6.35	11.03	63.03
7	Calhoun	25	5.92	10.35	30.43	5.77	1.88	7.56	11.03	72.94
8	Carrol	19	4.50	7.86	23.13	4.38	1.43	5.75	11.03	58.08
9	Chickasaw	20	4.74	8.28	24.34	4.61	1.50	6.05	11.03	60.56
10	Choctaw	16	3.79	6.62	19.47	3.69	1.20	4.84	11.03	50.65
11	Clairborne	10	2.37	4.14	12.17	2.31	0.75	3.03	11.03	35.79
12	Clarke	27	6.40	11.18	32.86	6.23	2.03	8.17	11.03	77.89
13	Clay	15	3.55	6.21	18.26	3.46	1.13	4.54	11.03	48.18
14	Coahoma	35	8.29	14.49	42.60	8.07	2.63	10.59	11.03	97.70
15	Copiah	24	5.69	9.93	29.21	5.53	1.81	7.26	11.03	70.46
16	Covington	17	4.03	7.04	20.69	3.92	1.28	5.14	11.03	53.13
17	Desoto	32	7.58	13.25	38.95	7.38	2.41	9.68	11.03	90.27
18	Forrest	42	9.95	17.38	51.12	9.69	3.16	12.71	11.03	115.04
19	* Franklin	18	4.27	7.45	21.91	4.15	1.35	5.45	11.03	55.60
20	George	22	5.21	9.11	26.78	5.07	1.66	6.66	11.03	65.51
21	* Greene	5	1.18	2.07	6.09	1.15	0.38	1.51	11.03	23.41
22	Grenada	19	4.50	7.86	23.13	4.38	1.43	5.75	11.03	58.08
23	Hancock	29	6.87	12.00	35.30	6.69	2.18	8.77	11.03	82.85
24	Harrison	63	14.93	26.08	76.68	14.53	4.74	19.06	11.03	167.04
25	Hinds	121	28.67	50.08	147.27	27.90	9.10	36.61	11.03	310.67
26	Holmes	12	2.84	4.97	14.61	2.77	0.90	3.63	11.03	40.75
27	* Humphreys	9	2.13	3.73	10.95	2.08	0.68	2.72	11.03	33.32
28	Issaquena	5	1.18	2.07	6.09	1.15	0.38	1.51	11.03	23.41
29	Itawamba	32	7.58	13.25	38.95	7.38	2.41	9.68	11.03	90.27
30	Jackson	66	15.64	27.32	80.33	15.22	4.97	19.97	11.03	174.47
31	Jasper	10	7.74	8.28	24.34	4.61	1.50	6.05	11.03	60.56
32	Jefferson	13	3.08	5.38	15.82	3.00	0.98	3.93	11.03	43.22
33	Jeff Davi	20	4.74	8.28	24.34	4.61	1.50	6.05	11.03	60.56
34	Jones	48	11.37	19.87	58.42	11.07	3.61	14.52	11.03	129.90
35	Kemper	25	5.92	10.35	30.43	5.77	1.88	7.56	11.03	72.94
36	Lafayette	25	5.92	10.35	30.43	5.77	1.88	7.56	11.03	72.94
37	Lamar	29	6.87	12.00	35.30	6.69	2.18	8.77	11.03	82.85
38	Lauderdal	63	14.93	26.08	76.68	14.53	4.74	19.06	11.03	167.04
39	Lawrence	21	4.98	8.69	25.56	4.84	1.58	6.35	11.03	63.03
40	Leake	19	4.50	7.86	23.13	4.38	1.43	5.75	11.03	58.08
41	Lee	40	9.48	16.56	48.68	9.22	3.01	12.10	11.03	110.09
42	Leflore	19	4.50	7.86	23.13	4.38	1.43	5.75	11.03	58.08
43	Lincoln	32	7.58	13.25	38.95	7.38	2.41	9.68	11.03	90.27
44	Lowndes	37	8.77	15.31	45.03	8.53	2.78	11.19	11.03	102.66
45	Madison	23	5.45	9.52	27.99	5.30	1.73	6.96	11.03	67.99
46	Marion	23	5.45	9.52	27.99	5.30	1.73	6.96	11.03	67.99
47	Marshall	25	5.92	10.35	30.43	5.77	1.88	7.56	11.03	72.94
48	Monroe	43	10.19	17.80	52.34	9.92	3.24	13.01	11.03	117.51
49	Montgomer	13	3.08	5.38	15.82	3.00	0.98	3.93	11.03	43.22
50	Neshoba	41	9.72	16.97	49.90	9.46	3.08	12.40	11.03	112.56
51	Newton	27	6.40	11.18	32.86	6.23	2.03	8.17	11.03	77.89
52	Noxubee	16	3.79	6.62	19.47	3.69	1.20	4.84	11.03	50.65
53	Oktibbeha	22	5.21	9.11	26.78	5.07	1.66	6.66	11.03	65.51
54	Panola	28	6.63	11.59	34.08	6.46	2.11	8.47	11.03	80.37
55	Pearl Riv	28	6.63	11.59	34.08	6.46	2.11	8.47	11.03	80.37
56	Perry	13	3.08	5.38	15.82	3.00	0.98	3.93	11.03	43.22
57	Pike	31	7.35	12.83	37.73	7.15	2.33	9.38	11.03	87.80
58	Pontotoc	30	7.11	12.42	36.51	6.92	2.26	9.08	11.03	85.32
59	Prentiss	5	1.18	2.07	6.09	1.15	0.38	1.51	11.03	23.41
60	Quitman	13	3.08	5.38	15.82	3.00	0.98	3.93	11.03	43.22
61	Rankin	45	10.66	18.63	54.77	10.38	3.39	13.61	11.03	122.47
62	Scott	24	5.69	9.93	29.21	5.53	1.81	7.26	11.03	70.46
63	Sharkey	8	1.90	3.31	9.74	1.84	0.60	2.42	11.03	30.84
64	Simpson	23	5.45	9.52	27.99	5.30	1.73	6.96	11.03	67.99
65	Smith	18	4.27	7.45	21.91	4.15	1.35	5.45	11.03	55.60
66	Stone	13	3.08	5.38	15.82	3.00	0.98	3.93	11.03	43.22
67	Sunflower	17	4.03	7.04	20.69	3.92	1.28	5.14	11.03	53.13
68	Tallahatc	20	4.74	8.28	24.34	4.61	1.50	6.05	11.03	60.56
69	Tate	19	4.50	7.86	23.13	4.38	1.43	5.75	11.03	58.08
70	Tippah	27	6.40	11.18	32.86	6.23	2.03	8.17	11.03	77.89
71	* Tishoming	21	4.98	8.69	25.56	4.84	1.58	6.35	11.03	63.03
72	* Tunica	10	2.37	4.14	12.17	2.31	0.75	3.03	11.03	35.79
73	* Union	39	9.24	16.14	47.47	8.99	2.93	11.80	11.03	107.61
74	Walthall	14	3.32	5.79	17.04	3.23	1.05	4.24	11.03	45.70
75	Warren	22	5.21	9.11	26.78	5.07	1.66	6.66	11.03	65.51
76	Washingto	23	5.45	9.52	27.99	5.30	1.73	6.96	11.03	67.99
77	Wayne	26	6.16	10.76	31.65	6.00	1.96	7.87	11.03	75.42
78	Webster	26	6.16	10.76	31.65	6.00	1.96	7.87	11.03	75.42
79	Wilkinson	9	2.13	3.73	10.95	2.08	0.68	2.72	11.03	33.32
80	Winston	27	6.40	11.18	32.86	6.23	2.03	8.17	11.03	77.89
81	Yalobusha	13	3.08	5.38	15.82	3.00	0.98	3.93	11.03	43.22
82	Yazoo	32	7.58	13.25	38.95	7.38	2.41	9.68	11.03	90.27
Total		2050	0.24	0.41	1.22	0.23	0.08	0.30
			$485.75	$848.52	$2, 495.10	$472.75	$154.23	$620.23	$904.46	$5, 981.04