NATCHEZ — Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said Wednesday he believes in Mississippi’s future and, in particular, the intelligence of its electorate.

Hosemann told members of the Rotary Club of Natchez that the state is starting to rebound, economically.

“We’re about level with corporations and LLCs compared to last year,” he said, referring to the number business filings his office processes each year.

“That’s a healthy sign for Mississippi,” he said. “We’ve hit the bottom and are starting the process (of recovery).”

Hosemann said Mississippi voters would have a chance to shape the state’s history in November, as three statewide referendums will be on the ballot. A referendum is a single political issue that is put to a statewide vote for a direct decision.

Among the three, one is near and dear to Hosemann’s heart — a push to require voters provide an ID when voting.

“When I was elected, I had great concerns about the validity of some elections in Mississippi,” he said.

The requirements the state has at the moment are fairly straightforward, Hosemann said, listing out being a citizen of the state, voting in the correct precinct and for a voter to be alive and not just a name on a voter roll.

“It’s pretty basic stuff,” he said, with a laugh. “But not all counties have signed onto this.”

After a couple of years of trying to secure voter ID requirements through the Legislature, Hosemann and others secured the nearly 100,000 signatures needed to put the issue on the ballot and take it straight to the people.

Hosemann said more than two-dozen statewide referendums have been attempted in Mississippi’s history.

“None has ever passed,” Hosemann said. “I anticipate all three of those (on the ballot in November) will pass.”

The other referendums on the ballot include:

4A “personhood” amendment that clearly states that life begins at conception, not birth.

4An eminent domain amendment that would prohibit state and local government from taking private land through use of eminent domain and giving it to any other person or business for 10 years.

“My personal opinion is that eminent domain should only be used for government purposes,” Hosemann said.

In addition, Hosemann said he hopes the Legislature passes proposed tax-incentive legislation.

Proposals include the creation of tax credits for contracts utilizing community and junior college research as well as tax credits for software development projects created within the state.