House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers said it was a “blatant violation” of the Voting Rights Act for Gov. Haley Barbour to separate the special election from other federal races, including a regular election for Mississippi’s other U.S. Senate seat.
“The Mississippi governor does not get to change the rules when the race is not going his way,” Conyers, of Michigan, said in a news release.
Barbour decided Sept. 9 to put the special Senate election between Republican Roger Wicker and Democrat Ronnie Musgrove near the bottom of the ballot, saying that’s where many past special elections have appeared.
A spokesman for Barbour said the ballot is consistent with state and federal law.
The Justice Department will consider Conyers’ request after the Mississippi Supreme Court rules on a Democratic lawsuit challenging the ballot, spokeswoman Jamie Hais said.
Clarion Ledger
9/16/8
Magnolia Tribune
