The Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor, and Treasurer, who, in performing their respective official duties, sign their official names as such officers to various and divers documents and instruments, are hereby authorized to use in signing said instruments and documents a standard signature machine that will reproduce a facsimile signature of each such officer which, under modern methods, gives more protection than using pen and ink. The signature machine to be used by the aforesaid officers under the provisions of this section shall be selected by the Governor, Attorney General and Secretary of State.

The instrument signed by the aforesaid officers of the State of Mississippi, who shall sign official instruments and documents with a signature machine under and by virtue of the provisions herein contained, shall be taken and accepted in all courts and otherwise with the same force, effect, and validity as though the said officer who signed same with said signature machine had signed such instrument or document with his own hand.

Each officer authorized by this section to use a signature machine shall safely keep his facsimile signature in such a way as to prevent the use thereof by persons not authorized so to do.

The Governor is hereby authorized to permit any other official of the state to use a signature machine of the kind selected by the Governor, Attorney General and Secretary of State, if the necessity therefor should arise. It shall be the duty of each of the officials authorized to use said signature machine to keep his facsimile signature secure, and such officer shall be liable personally and on his official bond for any loss caused by his negligence in failing to keep secure his said facsimile signature.

Any person unlawfully using any signature machine provided for in this section, without the consent or direction of the officer whose facsimile signature is being so used, shall be guilty of forgery and punishable upon conviction thereof as provided by law in such cases.