Hosemann talks to Staekville Rotary about Voter ID, SMART Business Act
Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann made a second Starkville appearance in six months to update members of the Rotary Club on the status of two objectives he had spearheaded recently during his tenure: the state’s voter identification law and the SMART Business Act.
Hosemann said he was in the process of gaining approval of the law, which would require voters to display a government-issued photograph before they can cast their ballots, from the United States Department of Justice. Sixty-two percent of Mississippi voters approved the proposed legislation in 2011. He said he expected to hear from the Department of Justice by the end of the month, but he believed the prospects for approval were “slim.”
“We have made the decision as a group of individuals, and society as a whole, that we believe that voter ID is an integral part of ensuring the integrity of the vote. Once that’s done, and it’s my job that you hired me for — to make sure that is implemented in a fair, impartial way,” Hosemann said. “If you’ll look at my regulations I think you will clearly see that we have done that … I’m encouraged to see what they come back with here in a couple of weeks, but in the event that they are not approving of Mississippi’s voter ID, then you’ll see us proceed to the District Court in Washington and file suit on your behalf.”
Starkville Daily News
3/12/13
Magnolia Tribune
