Mississippi § 21-9-65 - Petitions for special election.
Full text of Mississippi Mississippi Code of 1972 Annotated § 21-9-65 — Petitions for special election., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 21-9-65. Petitions for special election.
Except as otherwise provided for, no special election shall be held, and no ordinance, in which any petition or protest is required, shall be referred to, or voted on, at any election unless, within the time allowed by the terms hereof, a sufficient petition or petitions, addressed to the mayor, demanding such election or protesting against or requesting the adoption of such ordinances, shall be personally signed by at least twenty-five per centum of all the qualified electors of such city and filed with the city clerk. Immediately upon the filing of any such petition or petitions with the city clerk, he shall endorse thereon the date of such filing and shall within ten days thereafter, verify the signatures thereto by the registration and poll books, and deliver such petition or petitions to the mayor of such city, together with the certificate of such clerk showing the total number of qualified electors of such city and also the total number of qualified electors who shall have signed such petition or petitions, which certificate shall be prima facie correct but not conclusive. If it shall appear from said petition or petitions and the certificate of such clerk that the same are in proper form and have been signed by the required number of the qualified electors of such city, it shall be the duty of the council at its next regular meeting to order such special election, or refer such ordinance to a vote of the electors of such city, in case of their failure to wholly repeal the same. Each and every petition shall, at the time the same is filed with the city clerk, have attached thereto the affidavit of one or more of the signers thereto, stating the total number of names signed to such petition at the time of filing the same, and no such petition shall be received or filed by the city clerk unless such affidavit is attached thereto.
Source: official Mississippi text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Mississippi § 21-9-65
What does Mississippi Code of 1972 Annotated § 21-9-65 cover?
Section 21-9-65 ("Petitions for special election.") is part of the Mississippi Code of 1972 Annotated, the codified statutory law of Mississippi. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Mississippi § 21-9-65?
A common citation format is "Mississippi Code of 1972 Annotated § 21-9-65" (Mississippi). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Mississippi law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Mississippi official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Mississippi attorney.
How does Mississippi § 21-9-65 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Mississippi can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Mississippi.