The Mississippi Center for Justice filed a lawsuit in state court, arguing that the warnings by health officials to avoid large gatherings applies to polling places. Attorney Robert McDuff with the center wants absentee voting expanded to those who fear catching the coronavirus. Friday, the state supreme court struck down that request but clarified what conditions allow a person to vote absentee.
“They agreed with the lower court, with the secretary of state and with our clients that if a person has a physical condition that puts them at a risk of more severe consequences from COVID 19, then they can vote absentee,” said McDuff.
The Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights Under Law filed a preliminary injunction last Thursday in federal court--asking for an immediate response to a lawsuit already filed. Attorney Jennifer Nwachukwu says one of their concerns--two signatures shouldn’t be required to vote absentee.
“Likewise with the dual notarization for both absentee ballot applications and the ballot envelope itself, that raises concerns,” said Nwachukwu
Christy Wheeler is with the League of Women Voters of Mississippi, a plaintiff in the case. She says ballots are often rejected because people don’t sign the flap of the ballot envelope. Currently there’s no way to correct that.
“We want to have the ability to fix an absentee ballot that has been rejected by the resolution board,” said Wheeler.
If this case is struck down, Jennifer Nwachukwu says she doesn’t know if there would be time for an appeal before the November elections.
