Mississippi GOP Sues for Fair Elections
December 13, 2008
By Adam Lynch
Jackson Free Press
December 9, 2008
The Mississippi Republican Party filed suit against the Leflore County Election Commission and Southeast Greenwood poll manager Gail Griggs today for “failure to perform their statutory duties in the November 4 election.”
“Our evidence and eye witnesses reveal a serious failure in this precinct to follow Mississippi’s election laws and ensure a fair and honest election,” said Mississippi Republican Party Chairman Brad White in a statement. “We will not tolerate voter fraud, voter intimidation and violations of election laws. We want the next election in Leflore County to follow the law. And we want voters, candidates, and elected officials around the state to know we support honest elections and will fight against election fraud.”
White alleges that Leflore County poll watchers were “seated too far away” from the booths, rendering them ineffective, while unauthorized poll watchers “loitered about the polling location.” The party also claims people were assisting voters who had not requested any help and that “voters received instruction and direction on who to vote for at the voting machines.”
The suit also claims affidavit voters left the view of poll workers to go vote in a different room at one polling place and that the poll manager and bailiff “ignored notifications of violations and refused to enforce the law.”
The party filed a petition for writ of mandamus asking the Leflore County Circuit Court to find that the Leflore County Election Commission and Griggs “failed to perform their statutory duties.” The party also asks the court to issue a writ of mandamus “commanding the defendants and their successors in office to execute their duties in all future elections.”
The party is basing its suit on information it received from Republican Secretary of State Delbet Hosemann. The case is before Leflore County Circuit Judge Jannie M. Lewis.
Democratic Party Chairman Jamie Franks did not immediately return calls for comment.
Source: Jackson Free Press
