Of all the problems that may plague Mississippians at the polls Tuesday, longer lines are one of the few certainties. But if more complicated issues arise, they’ll happen under the watchful eyes of federal and state officials, political parties and advocacy groups monitoring elections throughout the state.
The intense scrutiny is mostly because of the tens of thousands of new voters who have registered for the first time in this year’s historic presidential race. High-profile races for U.S. Senate, congressional and judicial seats also are on the ballot.
Higher numbers of absentee voting also have prompted expectations of record turnout, which has led to worries about election-day staffing, computer glitches and voter intimidation or fraud.
“I think because there’s been so much concern about long lines and discrepancies, … I think things will go more smoothly than lots of people are predicting,” said Ron Howard, a professor of history and political science at Mississippi College.
Election organizers also sound confident. They’ve hired more poll workers and installed extra computerized voting machines at some precincts.
Attorney General Jim Hood believes voter assistance, paper and emergency ballots and challenged ballot procedures could cause the most headaches. He said the prediction was made “based on our observations and on our conversations with Mississippians statewide.”
Hood is advising circuit clerks to have enough paper ballots on hand. Computerized voting machines have been in use statewide for only a year, and malfunctions caused voting to slow in some areas of the state last fall.
He’s also reminding election workers that only voters who are blind, physically disabled or cannot read or write are eligible to receive assistance, and only after the voters ask for help.
Challenges to ballot procedures “are sometimes made arbitrarily as part of an effort to disrupt and delay the voting process,” Hood said.
Clarion Ledger
11/2/8
