Affidavit voters asked to follow-up with ballots as MS US Senate race neck-and-neck
MISSISSIPPI (WXXV) — With a razor-thin margin in Mississippi’s U.S. Senate race between incumbent Republican Cindy-Hyde Smith and Democrat challenger Scott Colom, every single vote counts. And with issues at polling places and thousands of affidavit ballots still being counted, all eyes are on Mississippi.
It’s down to the wire in Mississippi’s U.S. Senate race and results are still pouring in.
Election day brought challenges at polling locations across the state. Those issues included voting equipment malfunctions, confusion over polling locations, and long delays — with many of the reported problems centered in Jackson County. Mississippi Votes Action Fund says they heard from countless voters who experienced these challenges first hand.
“I even had a gentleman who is 87 years old let me know that he had to stand in line for 45 minutes-plus just to cast his ballot, and that’s not okay. So, we have been hearing so many things about voter suppression and all the things that happened in Jackson County yesterday,” said Jada Barnes, Mississippi Votes Action Fund Field Director.
Organizations like Mississippi Black Women’s Round Table are now calling for transparency, accuracy, and a review of those challenges reported state-wide. There is also concern that these setbacks could have affected voter turnout.
“Every eligible voter deserves a fair opportunity to cast a ballot, every eligible ballot deserves to be counted, and every Mississippian deserves confidence in the integrity of our elections. Those principles must guide us regardless of the final outcome,” said Executive Director Cassandra Welchlin in a statement.
And with a neck-and-neck race, every vote counts.
The race could come down to mail-in and affidavit ballots, as thousands in the state have yet to be counted. That’s why Mississippi Votes Action Fund is encouraging those who cast affidavit ballots to take the necessary steps to ensure their vote will count.
“It is very important to make sure… following up on your affidavit ballot is priority, because you wanna make sure that your voice is heard. A lot of people don’t know about the provisional ballots and the affidavit process, but now people are paying very close attention to it, because it’s like you said. It could potentially make or break an election for a specific candidate,” said Barnes.
Voters who cast affidavit ballots have until Tuesday, Nov. 10 to follow up with their circuit clerk’s office, and all ballots must be counted by Friday, Nov. 13. For questions on how to follow up on your affidavit ballot, call 833-678-4321.
