Harrison County Election: 746 affidavit ballots cleared for count
Commissioners rejected nearly half of submissions, citing incorrect precincts and missing signatures.
By Alessia Romano ·
Harrison County election officials approved 746 affidavit ballots out of the 1,450 they examined on Wednesday.
The commission reviewed voter records and paperwork throughout the morning. District 2 Election Commissioner Becky Payne stated that roughly 51% of the submissions were accepted.
Payne noted that voters casting ballots in the wrong precinct caused most of the rejections. She explained that some individuals no longer lived in the county but returned to vote. Others were rejected because the forms lacked necessary signatures from either the voter or the poll worker.
Lydia Grizzell, the policy and advocacy director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, observed that different counties handle these ballots differently. She said statewide guidance clarifying the process would help ensure consistency. Grizzell identified missing poll worker signatures as a primary concern.
Payne advised voters to update their registration addresses immediately. She pointed to next year's election as a reason to ensure their records match their current location.
The commission is scheduled to meet at the Harrison County Courthouse at 8 a.m. on Thursday. The group will open and count the 746 approved ballots. Officials said they must finish all remaining election work by Friday.
