Jackson Free Press

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.

Previous Commentsshow

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.

chimneyville

Dec 9 2008