In Mississippi, it’s common for voters who’ve cast their ballot at a particular precinct for years, to then go to the polls and find their name isn’t on the rolls, according to Nsombi Lambright. She’s with One Voice, a non-profit organization that works on voter protection issues. Lambright says the circuit clerk may have purged the rolls because of unreturned mail. She says vote at that location anyway.
“They still have the right to vote and if they have to, they can vote by affidavit ballot. Most people will turn around and leave and not vote and getting that vote in is critical,” said Lambright.
There are people who observe the election called poll watchers. Lambright says they can be inside or outside of polling sites. The secretary of state’s office requires that they be at least 150 feet away from entrances and only two are allowed inside. Lambright says poll watchers work for candidates or political parties to observe how the election is being conducted.
“They can also keep up with the number of individuals voting. A lot of candidates use this to kind of tally where their votes are in certain precincts,” said Lambright.
Damon Hewitt is with the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. He says the national organization is concerned about poll watchers or others intimidating voters. Hewitt says President Trump has encouraged his supporters to go into the polls and watch very carefully.
“They actually make it more difficult for people to vote and cast a ballot because they are frankly designed and intended to intimidate voters from even coming out to the polls in the first instance,” said Hewitt.
Nsombi Lambright says they operate a hotline on election day people can call with questions or concerns at 888-601-VOTE.
