Temporary block on disputed Mississippi ballot lifted
Mississippi Supreme Court justices have set aside an order that temporarily blocked the release of a disputed sample ballot in the race for Trent Lott’s old Senate seat.
The decision was filed Wednesday night, after most state offices closed.
Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann could not immediately be reached, and it was not clear whether he would go ahead and release the sample ballot to local officials – a move that could thwart Democrats’ attempt to challenge the order for races to appear on the ballot for the Nov. 4 election.
The panel of three Supreme Court justices acted on a request from Republican Gov. Haley Barbour, but didn’t give Barbour everything he wanted.
Barbour filed papers Wednesday asking justices to toss out the entire lawsuit that Democrats filed against him over his decision Tuesday that a special U.S. Senate election between Republican Roger Wicker and Democrat Ronnie Musgrove would appear near the bottom of the ballot. Barbour said he wanted to separate the special election from the regular elections.
Trudy Berger, the Pike County elections commissioner who sued the governor, said the Musgrove-Wicker race is one of the most important elections this year and some voters will become confused if it’s not near other federal contests at the top of the ballot.
Hinds County Circuit Judge Tomie Green was scheduled to hear arguments Thursday.
Sun Herald
9/10/8
Magnolia Tribune
