AP Anlysis: Mississippi has largely inflated rolls
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October 27, 2008
An Associated Press analysis found that 29 of Mississippi's 82 counties have more registered voters than residents old enough to cast a ballot.[1]
Reasons and Reactions
"There is no reason in the world why some of these counties should have more registered voters than they have living, breathing people," Mississippi Senate Elections Committee Chairman Terry Burton said.[1]
People could theoretically vote, then go back and try to pass themselves off as people who have died, though that's unexpected. In Mississippi, only first-time voters who registered by mail must show identification. Without an ID requirement, election officials must rely on poll workers and voters to be honest. However, there are reasons this inflation may be occuring that do not add up to voter fraud.[1]
In five Mississippi counties with inflated rolls, the discrepancy can be explained by rapid population growth. In the rest, the population has grown slowly or remained the same.[1]
Larry Gardner, chairman of the Election Commissioners Association of Mississippi, attributed some inflated voter rolls to commissioners who "are not doing their job."[1]
Gardner said in some counties, personality conflicts have led to power struggles between the circuit clerk and election commissioners. The circuit clerk, the county's chief elections officer, is supposed to help election commissioners purge the voter rolls. Gardner said some clerks have blocked commissioners from using county computers.[1]
Historical Ramifications
Because of Mississippi's history of trying to suppress minority voting decades ago, the U.S. Justice Department must clear any changes in election laws or procedures. Some commissioners say they're reluctant to purge names because they don't want to run afoul of the department. For example, In the Jackson suburb of Madison County earlier this year, election commissioner Sue Sautermeister put more than 10,000 names on a list of inactive voters, a step short of purging. After complaints from other county and state officials, Hosemann's office restored them.[1]
Mississippi Secretary of State Hosemann said his staff have been working with election commissioners, showing them how to check Health Department records so they can purge dead voters' names.[1]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Newsmax.com: "AP: Mississippi Has More Voters than Adults," Oct 27, 2008
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