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Voter turnout for runoff could...

Voter turnout for runoff could potentially overshadow high numbers in general election

By: Sarah Ulmer - November 26, 2018

Just one day before the runoff election between Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith and Mike Espy and absentee ballots are rolling in. As of Saturday November 26, at 10:00 a.m., over 46,000 absentee ballots had been received by the Secretary of State’s office.

Among the counties pulling in large numbers of absentee ballots are Harrison, Hinds, and Rankin counties.

2018 Runoff Absentees 11.26.18 by yallpolitics on Scribd

Just before the General Election on November 6, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann estimated that voter turnout to the polls would be at an all-time high for a non-presidential election year. Out of the State’s 1,797 precincts 887,368 votes were cast at the polls, 944,000 including absentee ballots. Last years primary turnout was low at only 13.4%, just above 245k voters statewide.

The Wednesday before General Election a total of 50,571 absentee ballot were sent out and 39,616 were returned to the Circuit Clerks. So, current runoff absentee ballots have already passed the general numbers.

RELATED: Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann estimates high voter turnout on Nov. 6 despite low primary numbers

“We are seeing some dramatic increases in voter registration in Mississippi this year,” said Secretary Hosemann. “Last time, 2014 we had 10,271 and this year we are almost three times that much at 31,335.”

About the Author(s)
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Sarah Ulmer

Sarah is a Mississippi native, born and raised in Madison. She is a graduate of Mississippi State University, where she studied Communications, with an emphasis in Broadcasting and Journalism. Sarah’s experience spans multiple mediums, including extensive videography with both at home and overseas, broadcasting daily news, and hosting a live radio show. In 2017, Sarah became a member of the Capitol Press Corp in Mississippi and has faithfully covered the decisions being made by leaders on some of the most important issues facing our state. Email Sarah: sarah@magnoliatribune.com