Sunday Training Session for Lawyers Set

     Below is the information to join the lawyer training session on Sunday afternoon, November 2, at 2:00 p.m. being conducted from the Butler Snow courtroom  in downtown Jackson. 

Pollwatchers Training Manual

Here is a Pollwatchers Training Manual compiled by the Mississippi Association for Justice from information from the Secretary of State’s Office and other sources.

Credentialed Poll Watchers Manual

Top Ten Things Every Mississippi Poll Manager Should Know

The non-profit group Advancement Project  published an ad in the October 26, 2008, The Clarion-Ledger which gives another take on what Poll Managers should know when they take on the job of running our election process.

Here are the points the group makes:

1.  Most voters are not required to show ID at the polls.

2.  Be creative when checking the poll book for a voter’s name.

3.  Voters have a right to assistance.

4.  Voters who have recently moved must be instructed on where and how to vote.

5.  Affidavit ballots are a last resort.

6.  Inform voters that affidavit ballots cast in the wrong precinct will not be counted.

7.  If the voting machines break down, voters may vote with regular paper ballots.

8.  Keep track of your supplies.

9.  Do not allow voters to be intimidated and take all complaints of voter intimidation seriously.

10.  Voters in line at the poling place at closing time must be allowed to vote.

Here is the full document in pdf format:

Advancement Project Poll Watchers Advice

Lawyers’ Voter Protection Trainings Set

     The Protect the Vote 2008 Campaign is offering free, non-partisan training for attorneys who have volunteered to help monitor the election process throughout Mississippi on November 4.

    The goal of the lawyers’ group is to be a resource for protecting voters’ rights all the way from the registration process to the ballot box, according to Yumeka Rushing, Project Coordinator.

   The first training session is scheduled for Sunday, October 26, at 2:00 p.m. at the Butler Snow courtroom on the tenth floor of the Regions Bank Building in downtown Jackson.  The Amite Street entrance will be open for participants to gain access to the building.  Directions to the building:  From I-55, take the High Street exit, turn left on State Street and proceed to Amite Street  Turn right onto Amite.  Proceed past Smith Park and the Governor’s Mansion, cross over West Street.  The entrance to the ground floor of the Regions Bank Building is just under the skywalk to your left.

  Persons who cannot attend may call in using the following conference call information:

The call-in number is: 1-218-339-7800

Participant Code is: 87652

The conference call service is free; however, long-distance charges may apply.

A Webinar is scheduled for Wednesday evening, October 29,  at 5:30 p.m. (dial in information TBA). 

The final training session is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, November 2, at 2:00 p.m. at the Butler Snow facility.

All sessions will present the same information.  This is a non-partisan effort and no campaign or political party is responsible for this training.

The Lawyers’ Voter Protection Guide is available here for uploading in two parts.

VOTER PROTECTION MANUAL PART 1

VOTER PROTECTION MANUAL PART 2

Leslie Scott, former Assistant Secretary of State for Elections, Carlton Reeves, past-president of the Magnolia Bar Association, Louisa Dixon, former Commissioner of Public Safety, and Sam Begley, Mississippi Association for Justice member, and others will be presenters.

The Protect the Vote 2008 coalition consists of a number of non-profit organizations dedicated to preserving the right to vote.

Poll Managers Top Ten List of Do’s and Don’ts

From the Secretary of State’s Poll Manager’s Guide:

 

APPENDIX D: POLL MANAGERS TOP TEN DO’S AND DON’TS

 

1. DO treat all voters with politeness and respect.

2. DO make sure that the election is conducted fairly and agreeably to law, and be
the judge of the qualifications of voters. (Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-233)

3. DO provide ample protection against molestation of and injury to the DRE units. (Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-531.6(3)

4. DO allow all qualified voters who have not voted, and who desire to vote, to have unobstructed access to the poll for the purpose of voting when others are not waiting. (Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-241)

5. DO NOT allow any campaigning or handing out campaign literature within 150 feet of the polling place. (Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-895)

6. DO provide written instructions to the Voters who cast an affidavit provisional ballot on how to determine if their vote was counted and if not, why it was not counted. (Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-573)

7. DO keep the peace and protect the voting place by preventing improper intrusion upon the voting place or interference with the election. (Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-541).

*8. DO allow any voter who says he is blind, physically disabled or is unable to read or write to be given assistance by anyone other than the Voter’s employer, or agent of the employer, or officer of agent of the Voter’s union. (Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-549)

9. DO NOT attempt to guide, aid, direct or influence any voter in the exercise of his right to vote, except as expressly allowed by law. (Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-237)

10. DO keep a space thirty (30) feet in every direction from the polls or the room in which the election is being held, open and clear of all persons except election officers, two (2) challengers of good conduct and behavior selected by each party, and candidates or a candidate representative. (Miss. Code Ann. §§ 23-15-245; 23-15-577)

*Although this list doesn’t specify it, the voter must be allowed to choose his or her assistant.  No voter should be forced into being “helped” by another individual.  It is against the law. — 601vote

 

 

 

Rankin Precinct 522 moved

   Rankin County Supervisors issued a Board Resolution on October 6 moving Rankin Precinct 522 to another location in the Patton Plaza Shopping Center, 2731 Old Brandon Road, Pearl.  The new precinct location is in the Dear Tax and Accounting d/b/a Econotax store.  The former polling place was in the Detail Design store. 

The change is noted in bold in the newspaper advertisements published in the county newspapers announcing the polling places.  The Supervisors’ resolution is on page 3B of the October 23 edition of The Rankin Record.

HINDS, MADISON POLLING PLACES CHANGED

    Today’s Clarion-Ledger reports that several polling places in Hinds and Madison Counties have been changed.  Please take note and inform everyone you know in these precinct areas of the change so that voters will report to the correct location on Election Day.

From The Clarion-Ledger: new precinct locations

Hinds County

Precinct 30, formerly at Morrison School on Emerson Road – now Faith Presbyterian Church, 3255 Bailey Ave.

Precinct 96, formerly Lakeshore Baptist Church – now Miracle Temple, 418 Lakeshore Road

Precinct 83, formerly at the fire station on Watkins Drive – now New Hope Baptist Church, 5202 Watkins Drive

Clinton Precinct 4, formerly Holy Savior Catholic Church – now Clinton YMCA, 400 Lindale Drive

Wynndale Precinct (new) -Terry, Wynndale Presbyterian Church, 6600 Terry Road

Madison County

(The first number represents the district, last number the precinct. For example, Precinct 107 is Precinct 7 in District 1.)

Precinct 107 (now includes Precinct 110, formerly at the Sunchase apartments clubhouse) – now Ridgeland Recreation Center, 127 Trace Park

Madison Precinct 210, formerly St. Frances of Assisi Catholic Church- now Madison Community Center, 7454 Old Canton Road

Precinct 406, formerly Liberty Baptist Church – now Greater Mount Levi Baptist, 1008 W. Fulton St., Canton

Precinct 517, formerly at Velma Jackson High – now Camden Community Center, 2000 Loring Road, Canton

Rankin County

No changes