There have been reports of various issues at some precincts across the state today. In Hinds County, people who voted as a Democrat in the August primaries were being allowed to vote as Republican. Mississippi has closed primaries, which means, if you vote for one party in the primary, you are only allowed to vote for that same party in a runoff. Hinds County Republican Party Chairman Pete Perry said he did not know how many people were improperly allowed to vote.
In Lafayette County, a voter posted a video to social media of a voting machine malfunction. The voter tried several times to select a particular candidate in the Republican gubernatorial runoff, however, the machine kept switching the voter’s choice to the opposing candidate. Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann says 19 votes were made before the error was noticed. The same issue was also reported in Calhoun County.
At a precinct in Edwards, there was no Republican representative available until after 9 this morning to distribute ballots. Some Republican voters who were there at 7 when the polls opened, had to return to that precinct to cast their vote.
Overall, turnout has been low. For instance, in Hattiesburg, Mayor Toby Barker reported the following on his Facebook page:
“Voter turnout in Hattiesburg is far behind where it should be.”
As of 4 p.m.:
Camp has fewer than 200 votes.
Kamper has fewer than 250 votes.
Pinecrest has fewer than 200 votes.
Thames has fewer than 800 votes.
West Hills has fewer than 200 votes.
The polls will remain open until 7 tonight.
