Mississippi's House of Representatives will hold a special session on May 20 to redraw the state's supreme court districts, with the proceedings taking place at the Old Capitol Museum due to ongoing renovations in the regular house chamber.

The Old Capitol building served as Mississippi's seat of government from 1839 to 1903 and witnessed significant historical events, including the 1861 vote by lawmakers to secede from the Union. The building is now operated as a museum.

The special session will focus on redistricting the state's supreme court districts, though specific details about the proposed changes have not been disclosed. State officials cited renovations to the current house chamber as the reason for relocating the session to the historic building.

The timing and location of the redistricting session have drawn attention given the building's role in Mississippi's antebellum and Civil War-era history. The Old Capitol has been preserved as a historical site and museum since the legislature moved to its current location in 1903.

Redistricting efforts across various states have been subject to increased scrutiny in recent years, with courts and advocacy groups closely monitoring changes to electoral boundaries for potential impacts on voter representation.