home > Noise > Politics

Mississippi GOP Sues for Fair Elections

by Adam Lynch
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.

posted by DonnaLadd on 12/09/08 at 11:02 AM. [printer version] Share |

COMMENTS

The quote from GOP Chairman Brad White, that his party "will not tolerate voter fraud, voter intimidation..," is not pertinent to the facts alleged in the mandamus action, because,apparently, there is no allegation or evidence of fraud or intimidation at the polling place in question.If I were poll manager Gail Griggs I would contemplate a countersuit for defamation.Also, is the GOP relying entirely on information received from the secretary of state?did hosemann ever show what he apparently learned with the county election commission and suggest better training? is this the new modus operandi of the secretary of state ? send a bunch of folks out on election day clothed with governmental authority prowling for irregularities, then turn over their "findings" to the republican party.?why did the party observers at this polling palce challenge any of the votes cast?did the party call the justice department about this? mandamus also does not appear to be a proper remedy.

posted by chimneyville on 12/09/08 at 03:29 PM

Page 1 of 1 pages

:: recentcomments

Feb 03, 2012 | 07:09 PM
Deuce Headed Back to Ole Miss, Reports Say
Todd Stauffer: Clarification: Now the Sun Herald tells us the Deuce thing isn't a done deal. So much for believing CoachingSearch.com. Also,"Mr. Factsy-pants" sports guy Bryan ...

Feb 03, 2012 | 05:52 PM
Is State Executing a Mentally Ill Man?
Ronni_Mott: Story is updated with the correct telephone number for the governor's office: 601-359-3150.

Feb 03, 2012 | 05:41 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Kamikaze: Renaldo, you may have hit the nail on the head. It could be perhaps in the differences in how Whites and Blacks deal w/ success. In affluence for White success stories there is a ...

Feb 03, 2012 | 04:58 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Renaldo Bryant: Good points Queen . I am not so sure that Whites have a mentality of “if I get it and you get it - WE KEEP IT” and blacks have the attitude of “if I get, I have to keep ...

Feb 03, 2012 | 03:41 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Queen601: Mr. Bryant, thanks for the dialogue and I agree with what you've shared. The "community" is really quick to turn their backs on those who move out of those neighborhoods and ...

Feb 03, 2012 | 03:01 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Renaldo Bryant: Good questions Kaze and Queen, I think much of the perception in many black communities about being “down” and the struggle comes from the sense of community that develops ...

Feb 03, 2012 | 02:19 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Kamikaze: And my wife poses a very good question. Why do Black feel like they need to see you struggle to know that youre "down"? Why is that if you 1. Have financial comfort you cant be "for" ...

Feb 03, 2012 | 02:15 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Kamikaze: Good discussion. And trust, its helping me as much as Im trying to help others in a similar quandry. Defining YOU for YOU may be the best mantra yet. Ive always fancied myself ...

Feb 03, 2012 | 12:03 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Queen601: "If I didn't define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people's fantasies of me and eaten alive." Audre Lorde

Feb 03, 2012 | 11:13 AM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Renaldo Bryant: Very interesting topic. How to be a professional, "Down" Black man in 21st Century Jackson, MS. Somebody ought to write the book LOL!!! But seriously, this is a very good ...

Feb 03, 2012 | 10:32 AM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Duan C.: "Why the white folk need to see you in a suit and tie in order to believe you are "worthwhile" is beyond me?" Queen I caught that! lol!!!! Ok, you got me - you got me.

Feb 03, 2012 | 10:27 AM
Study: Race Affects Broadband Access
Duan C.: @ Renaldo - I was just trying to be under the radar with it - but you hit it on the head! lol!!! But you are right though

Feb 03, 2012 | 09:50 AM
Study: Race Affects Broadband Access
Renaldo Bryant: Actually Duan C, I saw the quote as indicative of the wealth gap between Black families and white families, not necessarily the companies charging black families ...

Feb 03, 2012 | 09:10 AM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Queen601: I met with a brother recently who has made the decision to remain poor (I guess poor is in the eye of the beholder because he would argue that he isn't poor). He has married himself ...

Feb 03, 2012 | 08:39 AM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Duan C.: "Worse still the black elite is scared as hell of ya because you threaten their "spot". Brotha, you hit the nail on the head with that one! The other two things I think we face are: ...

100 recent comments »

home > Noise > Politics

Mississippi GOP Sues for Fair Elections

COMMENTS

e-mail newsletter

just commented on...

most recent posts...

jfp featured event

Mississippi HeARTS Against AIDS Benefit

jfp best bets and recommended