Mississippi voters who cast an affidavit ballot on Nov. 3 because they did not have an acceptable photo ID have until Tuesday to take it to a circuit clerk’s office. After that, the ballot can be rejected for that reason.
The deadline is five business days after Election Day, which falls on Nov. 10. The Secretary of State’s office says a voter in that position can either show an acceptable photo ID at the clerk’s office or apply there for a Mississippi Voter Identification Card.
Acceptable identification includes a driver’s license, a state-issued ID, a U.S. passport, a government employee ID, a firearms license, an accredited Mississippi student ID, a military ID, a tribal photo ID or a Mississippi Voter Identification Card. An expired ID works if it is less than 10 years old and carries the voter’s name and photograph.
A voter who cast an affidavit ballot because of a religious objection to being photographed has the same five days to complete an affidavit of religious objection at the clerk’s office, according to the state’s voter information guide.
Most affidavit voters have nothing to do. County election commissioners verify those ballots against the registration records without any step by the voter, including ballots cast by voters whose registration was marked inactive. Section 23-15-573 of the state code puts that decision with the commissioners.
Two problems cannot be fixed. A ballot cast in a precinct other than the one tied to the voter’s address will not count, and neither will one whose envelope the voter did not sign.
Affidavit voters are entitled to written information, given to them at the time they vote, telling them how to find out whether the ballot counted and, if it did not, why not. The Secretary of State’s office also runs a voter identification hotline at 1-844-678-6837.
Counties had processed 12,767 affidavit ballots as of Sunday and accepted about 77 percent of them, Secretary of State Michael Watson reported from the statewide election management system. That leaves roughly 2,900 rejected, more than the margin separating the candidates. Just more than 2,800 absentee mail ballots were still outstanding and 75 of the state’s 82 counties had uploaded unofficial results.
Scott Colom led Cindy Hyde-Smith by more than 2,500 votes in those unofficial returns.
Closing times are not the same everywhere, and a voter who arrives after the door is locked has no second chance.
The Rankin County circuit clerk’s office at 215 E. Government St. in Brandon closes at 4 p.m. The Hinds County offices close at 5pm (phone numbers in Jackson, 601/968-6628, and in Raymond, 601/857-8038). Harrison County’s office at 1801 23rd Ave. in Gulfport closes at 5 p.m. and can be reached at 228/865-4051. In DeSoto County, where more than 2,000 affidavit ballots are under review, the clerk is on the second floor of the courthouse in Hernando (phone 662/469-8007) and the deadline is 5 p.m.
VoteRiders, a nonpartisan group that helps voters obtain identification, is offering rides to clerk’s offices and will cover the cost of an ID or the documents needed to get one. Its number is 866/432-8683.
DeSoto County’s election commission takes up its affidavit ballots at 3 p.m. Wednesday. Counties certify their returns to the state on Nov. 13.
Image: Hinds County courthouse (via Flickr, credit Bill Badzo)
