Voters raise concerns as Harrison County reviews affidavit ballots

GULFPORT, Miss. (WXXV) — The Harrison County Election Commission has been making its way through the more than 1,400 provisional ballots cast in last week’s midterm elections.

The process began at 10 a.m. Tuesday and went late into the night.

Commissioners are looking at each individual ballot to determine whether it will be counted depending on factors like voter registration status and if the individual voted at the correct precinct. Voting rights organizations and community members were able to observe the process, witnessing the commissioner’s decisions in real time.

Many in attendance say they have been present the entire day, and believe there have been some discrepancies when choosing which votes will be counted and which will be rejected. In several instances, votes were rejected because they were missing a poll worker’s signature, raising concerns among those observing the process.

“Everyone is questioning everything. You know, I’ve heard some good things and I’ve heard some bad things, but we’re all just here for one thing. We want to make sure every eligible voter’s vote counts, and that’s what everybody wants in the room,” said Gulfport Ward 6 City Councilwoman Carrissa Corbett. “So, the thing that we are not seeing here is people being fair. The lack of fairness here… that’s what we’re experiencing. And everyone sees that, that’s in the room.”

Mississippi counties have until Friday, November 13, to certify votes and report the total number to the state.