Today, Mississippians go to the polls to cast ballots in a statewide general election that will include not only such offices as Mississippi Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General and legislative positions but also county positions such as sheriffs, supervisors and chancery clerks.
Follow along here at the Clarion Ledger as we report from the polls throughout the day.
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
People’s Funeral Home and Fire Station 5 report good turnout
About three people were in-line at the People’s Funeral Home in downtown Jackson at approximately 5 p.m. But Casandra Shorter, a poll worker manning the desk where residents show their IDs, said turn-out has been good.
“The younger generation is really coming out,” Shorter said.
Shirley Cosey said the same. She has been working as the returning and receiving manager at the Fire Station 5 precinct off North State Street for the past five years. Overall, she said turn-out has been better than previous years.
— Charlie Drape
This Jackson precinct has low turnout, plenty of ballots
Poll workers Linda Adams Smith and Bertha Moses expressed frustration at the lack of voter turn-out their precinct location, the U.S. Air Force Meps Liason on South State Street in downtown Jackson.
"We've got plenty of ballots, just not enough voters," Smith said.
Poll workers speculated that the low turn out was due to their voting precinct having been changed twice. Before this year's election, the precinct was located at the now defunct Eudora Welty Library. Since the library's closing, the precinct moved to the Old Capitol Inn for the primaries.
Now, it has changed for the third time. Smith and Moses both said not enough people were notified, so there has been confusion on where to go. They sent another poll worker to the Old Capitol Inn to stand outside and tell confused voters that the precinct had changed.
— Charlie Drape
More:Mississippi general election results 2023
Ballots run out at several Hinds Co. precincts
Many locations in Hinds County ran out of ballots and the Hinds County Election Commission was in the process of trying to print more ballots and deliver them as time was running out on voting Tuesday afternoon, according to Pete Perry of the Hinds County Republican Party.
As many as nine precincts have run out of ballots, according to published reports.
"The election commission did not print enough ballots for the precincts. That's the bottom line," Perry said. "Folks have been standing in line for hours waiting to vote and many of them have left."
According to Perry, the election commission is expected to provide ballots for 60% of registered voters to each precinct.
Both Republicans and Democrats are discussing options for keeping polls open after the 7 p.m. deadline.
Calls to the Secretary of State's office were not immediately returned.
"There is a process to print more ballots but it takes a long time to do that," Perry said. "It's not like just making copies in your office."
More than 72,000 people from Hinds County voted in governor's election in 2019 and around 78% voted for Democrat Jim Hood.
A representative at the Hinds County Election Commission declined to confirm how many precincts were affected Tuesday.
— Ross Reily
Madison precinct sees good turnout
Ridgecrest Baptist Church on Old Canton Road in Madison had hit a lull around 4 p.m. but had already seen 41% of its 2328 registered voters earlier in the day.Election worker Judy Douglass said it’s been a great turnout so far. Forty people were lined up ready to go when the doors opened at 7 a.m.Douglass said she was happy with the turnout especially since the precinct didn’t see as many voters at the primary elections that happened in August.
Turnout good at Blackburn Middle School, Precinct 51
Poll Manager Drew Overton, 18, said voter turnout has been good for Blackburn Middle School in Jackson.
As of 2 p.m., 371 of the 2,003 registered people at this precinct had casted their votes, totaling to 18%. Last year, voter turnout for this precinct totaled to 23% (476 cast ballots).
Most elections that I’ve worked here maybe had 500 people at the end of the day, but I think we are going to get more than that by the end of the day,” Overton said Tuesday. “I’m really excited about that.”
There were no lines outside or inside of the location going into Tuesday afternoon; however, voters did promote candidates from across the street.
Eric Brown, a campaigner for the re-election of Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, said he was here to “promote the vote” to bypassers.
“Whoever you are voting for and whatever your cause is, exercise your vote,” Brown said.
— Pam Dankins
Making his voice heard
Hattiesburg resident Alēhandro Wooten said voting is a way for his voice to be heard.
"Voting is our platform," he said. "People have suffered and even died so we could have the right to vote."
Voting got off to fast start in Rankin County
Voting got off to a fast start Tuesday in Rankin County.
“There has been a steady flow all day,” said Rankin County Circuit Clerk Rebecca “Becky” Boyd.
She said the number of has been up at most precincts compared to those voting in the recent August primary elections.
Boyd said everything had been operating smoothly with the election, with no major problems reported.
“Yes, it has been very steady,” said poll worker Ben Pyle who was assisting voters at the Crossgates United Methodist Church precinct in Brandon. As of 11:45 a.m. Pyle said 480 of the precincts 2232 registered voters had cast ballots.
Voting for county officials in the General Election was mostly a formality in the heavily Republican county, where Donald Trump led Democrat Joe Biden almost three to one in the 2020 U.S Presidential race. In the county of nearly 160,000 people, not a single Democratic candidate filed to run for any local office in the current election cycle.
The single contested local office in today’s Rankin County General Election is for Supervisor, District 4, where independent candidate Ava Harvey is challenging Republican incumbent Steve Gaines
Harvey, who is seeking to become one of Rankin County’s first Black elected officials in modern history, serves as pastor of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church near Brandon. The church served as host to several meetings organized by the NAACP earlier this year where allegations against the Goon Squad were first made public.
Gaines is a retired federal investigator and the owner of Gaines Angus Ranch.
The district encompasses most of northeast Rankin County stretching southward to the town of Pelahatchie to the east and Brandon’s populous Crossgates subdivision to the west.
— Ed Inman
Hattiesburg Cultural Center has large turnout
Hattiesburg Cultural Center poll manager Fannie Evans said voter turnout had been steady, with roughly 150 of the precinct's 1,400 registered voters casting their ballots by 10:30 a.m.
"We have been blessed this morning with a very large turnout of voters," she said.
— Lici Beveridge
Crystal Springs voting going smoothly
Roughly a dozen people stood in line to vote just after noon at the J.T. Biggs, Jr. Memorial Library in Crystal Springs where about 400 people, or about 20% of those registered at the precinct, had voted by that time. Outside, the small parking lot was beyond full.
"It's been a steady crowd," said Linda Murray, receive and return manager said. "We've been slack for maybe 10 or 15 minutes and then they pick back up.
"That's pretty good this year. We're probably going to pick up more after work."
Mark Bell was among those voting during his lunch break and said the governor's race between incumbent Tate Reeves and democratic challenger Brandon Presley was the main reason he was voting.
"I think it's important because of the economy and my values — traditional values," Bell said.
He had similar feelings about the Lt. Governor's race.
"I think it's pretty much as important for the same reasons."
— Brian Broom
Greater Harvest church slow going
A campaign sign greets voters as they arrive to vote at Precinct 72.
The voting room inside Greater Harvest Baptist Church in Jackson was quiet, but by 11:10 a.m., 98 people had sat down on the folding chairs to vote on Election Day, Tuesday.
"It's very important," Yulanda Johnson, 42, said about voting. "It'll make a big difference because our ancestors had to fight just to have the opportunity to vote."
— Lauren Witte
Turnout steady in Hattiesburg
Voter turnout has been steady, poll managers in Hattiesburg said.
At Hardy Street Baptist precinct, "We're having a great turnout," Megan Williamson said. "We haven't slowed down all day."
— Lici Beveridge
Richland Community Center hopping
People file into the Richland Community Center to vote on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023.
By 11:10 a.m. over 340 people from South Richland and over 260 people from North Richland had voted at Precinct 114.
"I think it's a good turnout," Poll Manager Tammy Rankin said. "And no problems. Knock on some wood."
— Lauren Witte
No waiting at China Grove polling place in Madison
There were no lines by mid-morning at China Grove Church on Mannsdale Road in Madison, but there was a consistent crawl of voters entering the church. By 10:30 a.m., 350 of the 1,889 people registered at that precinct had cast their votes, totaling about 19%.
Poll Manager Alice Coleman said the amount was not the highest she had ever seen, but it was not the lowest. She said she always sees a good amount of people when there is a gubernatorial race on the ballot.
Amid dozens of signs lining Mannsdale Road outside the small church, Linda Bennett was the only one by mid-morning holding a sign. Her sign read, “Randall Bolden, Election Commissioner, District 2.”
Bennett said she came out today to support Bolden because he is an unbiased candidate. She said Bolden is a “millennial taking care of business” that isn’t easily swayed. Bolden is an Independent candidate running against Republican candidate Barbara Gross.
— Mary Boyte
Turnout steady at Willie Morris Library polling place
Amidst the backdrop of towering bookshelves inside the Willie Morris Library, 4912 Old Canton Road, voters cast their ballots for Tuesday’s election.
From 9:45 to 10:30 a.m., primarily middle aged and elderly residents came and went from the poll location.
Willie Morris Library, precinct 34, is one of the five voting locations Jackson/Hinds Library Systems announced for people to cast their ballots.
Other locations per JHLS are listed below:
- Precinct 1: Military Building - 664 South State St. (Was formerly at the Eudora Welty Library)
- Precinct 28: Medgar Evers Library
- Precinct 28: GoldenKey Community Center (Same location as Hamer Library)
- Precinct U1: Evelyn Taylor Majoure Library
— Pam Dankins
Turnout heavy at Madison polling place
By 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, more than 500 people had cast their ballots at the Pilgrim Rest M.B. Baptist Church polling place in Madison.
The polling place bailiff said turnout was heavier than in the past few primary elections.
Larry Coleman of Madison said he always votes but on Tuesday he was particularly interested in the governor’s race, and he voted for Incumbent Republican Tate Reeves.
“He is better than the alternative,” Coleman said.
— Scott Hawkins
Reeves, Presley cast their ballots
Gov. Tate Reeves and wife Elee Reeves arrived at the U.S. Military Entrance Processing Station shortly after 10 a.m. to a gaggle of media in Jackson to vote in the general election Tuesday.
The small polling station, hosting a steady flow of voters, was off limits to the press, which was permitted to shoot images from the door. Reeves worked the room greeting poll workers, thanking them for their work before leaving.
After Reeves left, things returned to normal. The precinct was quiet with an occasional voter going in and out.
Democratic nominee for governor Brandon Presley also cast his vote Tuesday morning. Presley, trying to become the first Democrat to win the state's top seat since the 1999 election, was joined by his wife Katelyn Mabus Presley as they filled out their ballots in their home precinct in Nettleton at the Nettleton Methodist Church Life Center on Tuesday.
— Barbara Gauntt
Voting at Free Will Baptist in Pearl
Six booths awaited voters by a mural that reads "Raising Cane For Christ" at First Free Will Baptist Church in Pearl on Election Day.
By 9:15 a.m., 80 people had sat down in those seats and marked their votes. One of those 80, Linn McKie, came out "to make sure that my vote is cast and that it makes a difference," she said.
The day had a rocky start for the poll workers at Precinct 510. Poll Manager Jill Middleton said that when they arrived, they had the wrong machines, but they were brought the correct ones quickly.
"Everyone that came in here voted," Middleton said.
— Lauren Witte
Voting at Lake Caroline
A steady but small stream of people trickled in and out of the Lake Caroline Clubhouse at approximately 9 a.m. Tuesday to cast ballots in the General Election.
The bailiff, Jacob Stubbs, said he noticed the crowd today was smaller than it normally is, but more people usually come to vote between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., with people who lined up before 7 p.m. voting after the polls close.
However, poll manager Ann Price said there is a very good turn out so far with 358 voters as of 9:15 a.m. She said when the doors opened, there was a line already formed. There is never a still moment and someone is always coming through the doors, she said.
Both Stubbs and Price said they expect more turnout as the day progresses.
— Mary Boyte
Voting in Clinton
Precinct PN, at the Clinton Fire Station, 1973 Pinehaven Road, Clinton, had a slim line of voters waiting to cast their ballots, early Tuesday morning.Voters said they came to beat the rush, only to find out they were the rush.It wasn’t until around 8-8:30 a.m. when a trail of people strolled in and the line lengthened.
— Pam Dankins
V-O-T-E!
Fifth-grade students wait to greet voters with signs and smiles at Spann Elementary in Jackson on Election Day morning.
"V - O - T -E!" they chanted as people walked in to vote.
"Be our vote!" Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann arrived with his wife, Lynn, and granddaughter, Carson, to no line at 7:45 a.m.
— Lauren Witte
Voting at Sunnybrook Estates
Voting was brisk at Sunnybrook Estates in Madison early Tuesday.
There are 767 people registered to vote at this precinct and more than 30 had voted by 7:15 a.m.
It was early in the process, but there had been no irregularities reported there. Everything was running smoothly.
While Madison The City is a Republican stronghold, there were no campaign signs for Democratic candidates outside the precinct. There were only signs for Gov. Tate Reeves and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann.
— Ross Reily
Polls are open
Polls throughout Mississippi are now open. They remain open until the last voter in line at 7 p.m. has had a chance to cast a ballot.
All you need to cast your ballotMississippi election: Everything you need to cast your ballot
Justice Department to monitor polling places in Madison, Panola counties
The U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division will be monitoring Tuesday's polling places in Madison and Panola counties to make sure they are in compliance with federal voting rights laws.
Federal officials said Monday the DOJ will assign federal observers to monitor the election in a few other states, including New Jersey, Rhode Island and Virginia.
The Civil Rights Division enforces the federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all citizens to access the ballot. The division regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities nationwide.
In addition, anyone who believes their civil rights may have been violated at the polls may file a complaint with Civil Rights Division personnel online at civilrights.justice.gov or by calling 800-253-3931.
For more information, visit justice.gov/crt/voting-section and justice.gov/crt.
— Lici Beveridge
First in line
The sun had barely broken over the treetops on Election Day morning, and the line at Precinct 85 at Jackson Fire Station 26 was already well formed. Latasha Willis, first in line, arrived at 6:40 a.m. "At this particular precinct, the lines are very long," Willis said. "We have some active and engaged voters here."
Before voting started at 7 a.m., the line was out to the street and curving along the road.
— Barbara Gauntt
Exercising the right to vote
As the polls opened early Tuesday morning, more than 60 voters at Precinct 85, 2223 Flag Chapel Dr., Jackson, prepared to exercise their democratic right to vote.
One voter said he was determined to exercise his right to vote, holding his identification card in his hand and saying he wants to change his community.
— Pam Dankins
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