On Tuesday, Mississippians chose to rid of a statewide election process that had been part of the state’s constitution since 1890.
The amendment, which passed by a 70-30% margin, will simplify elections for statewide positions, such as governor and lieutenant governor, ultimately eliminating the stipulation that candidates must have approval from a majority of the state’s House of Representatives.
Beforehand, Mississippi was the only state to enforce the electoral college-esque system as it was previously used as a means to prevent African Americans from attaining statewide positions post-reconstruction.
Now that Mississippi voters have used their joint voice to remove the Jim Crow era law, a simple majority of the popular vote will be enough to win – just as it is in the other 49 states.
