Election Day in Mississippi: Presley concedes governor's race, congratulates Reeves

Today, Mississippians go to the polls to cast ballots in a statewide general election that will include not only such offices as Mississippi Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General and legislative positions but also county positions such as sheriffs, supervisors and chancery clerks.

Follow along here at the Clarion Ledger as we report from the polls throughout the day.

Governor's race formally called for Reeves

At 11:29, with 91% of the state's votes counted, the Associated Press formally called the Mississippi governor's race for Republican incumbent Tate Reeves.

With 91% of the vote counted, Reeves had 400,293 votes for 52.3% of the tally. Presley had 45.9% of the vote, with 351,111 votes total.

Polling in advance of the race had ranged from 8% to 1% with Reeves leading all polls.

In the 2019 Mississippi governor's race, Reeves won the Republican nomination in a runoff over Bill Waller by a margin of 8.2%. He then defeated Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood by about 5%.

Hood garnered more votes as a Democrat (414,000) in 2019 than any in this century and still lost to Reeves by more than 45,000 votes.

Reeves speaks to supporters after declaring victory

Shortly after Democratic candidate Brandon Presley spoke to his supporters, conceding the governor's race, incumbent Republican Gov. Tate Reeves took the stage in Flowood.

"This victory is more than just who occupies the governor's mansion over the next four years. It's really about the direction our state will go over the next four years," Reeves said during his victory speech.

Reeves said he spoke with Presley on the phone. Presley congratulated him on his campaign and victory. Reeves thanked his wife and kids for the support. He also thanked former president Donald Trump who told Reeves to tell the people of Mississippi "I love y'all."

— Charlie Drape

Presley concedes race, congratulates Reeves

Around 10:45 p.m. Tuesday, Democratic candidate Brandon Presley came to greet his supporters. He said he came up a little short on votes. Presley thanked his supporters and said the campaign was not about him.

"So many of you laid so much on the line to do this," he said.

Minutes before, Presley spoke with Gov. Tate Reeves and congratulated him on the win.

With 87% of the votes counted statewide, the Associated Press had not called the race at 10:54 p.m.

— Lici Beveridge

Jackson State president attends Reeves celebration

Acting Jackson State University President Elayne Hayes Anthony was in attendance at The Refuge in Flowood for the celebration party for Gov. Tate Reeves. Anthony is still waiting to find out if she will be chosen as the permanent president at JSU. The Institutions of Higher Learning stated Friday that a meeting would be held Wednesday. That meeting has not yet been formally announced. Meanwhile, Hayes Anthony was on hand to send her well wishes to the governor.

— Ross Reily

Reeves lead narrows but still strong as vote totals grow

With about 84% of votes accounted for, Gov. Tate Reeves maintains about a 49,000 vote lead over Brandon Presley. For a while, Republican incumbent Reeves managed to hold onto 56% of the vote. He has now fallen to 52.4% of the vote.

Presley, the Democratic opponent, previously recorded 42% of the vote. His votes have now increased to 45.6%.

An elected governor will need more than 50% of the vote to send the election into a runoff on Nov. 28.

— Pam Dankins

District 22 MS Senate race called for incumbent Democrat

The Mississippi Senate race for District 22 has been called with 91% of votes counted. Incumbent Democrat Joseph Thomas reclaimed his senate seat, defeating Republican challenger Chastity Magyar with about a 57.5 to 42.5% advantage.

Senate District 22 covers parts of Humphreys, Madison, Sharkey, Sunflower, Washington and Yazoo counties.

— Charlie Drape

Reeves holds substantial lead with more than 60% of vote counted

With more than 60% of votes counted, incumbent Republican Gov. Tate Reeves maintains a comfortable lead against Democratic challenger Brandon Presley. Reeves is leading by nearly 75,000 votes.

Reeves has recorded 56.1% of the vote compared to Presley’s 42.3%.

Independent Gwendolyn Gray has 8,461 votes for 1.6% of the vote.

— Charlie Drape

Jackson-area Senate races

In the Mississippi Senate race for District 22, incumbent Democrat Joseph Thomas is leading with 55.1% of the vote. Republican challenger Chastity Magar is behind with 44.9% of the vote.

So far, 82% of votes have been counted in that race.

— Charlie Drape

Incumbent Rankin County District 4 supervisor regains seat

In Rankin County’s only contested local race, Dist. 4 incumbent Republican Supervisor Steve Gaines, with 6,842 votes, prevailed over independent challenger Ava Harvey, who had 2,207 votes, according to the night's total count but unofficial results.

Rankin County’s District 4 encompasses most of northeastern Rankin County, southward to the town of Pelahatchie on the east and Brandon’s populous Crossgates subdivision to the west.

In another race of interest in Rankin County, incumbent Sheriff Bryan Bailey who ran unopposed garnered 29,557 votes with 6,310 undervotes (voters who did not vote in that race) and 5,286 write-ins.

— Ed Inman

Reeves maintains strong lead in MS governor's race

Republican Gov. Tate Reeves continues to hover around 56% of the vote in the incumbent governor’s race against Brandon Presley. The Democratic challenger has recorded 42% of the vote, with 45% of votes counted thus far.

Polling locations allowed to stay open in Hinds County due to ballot shortages officially closed at 8 p.m. Presley will need a strong turnout in normally blue Hinds County to gain the push he needs to close the gap with Reeves.

— Charlie Drape

State treasurer called for McRae to give GOP clean sweep down ballot

The Associated Press also called David McRae as the winner for the Treasurer race with 30-35% of the votes in. McRae garnered more than 179,250 votes, making up 64% of the vote. Opponent Addie Green was able to take 36% of the vote.

Every statewide office race but governor has now been called.

— Pam Dankins

Republicans leading regional races

Republican Brent Bailey is leading Democrat DeKeither Stamps in the race for the Public Service Commission’s Central District, while Republican Ricky Pennington is also leading Democrat Willie Simmons in the race for the Transportation Commission's Central District.

About 15% of the votes were counted.

— Charlie Drape

Gibson, Chaney repeat as Ag, Insurance commissioners

According to the Associated Press, Andy Gipson has won re-election as the Agriculture Commissioner. With 25% of the votes in, Gipson totaled roughly 63% of the votes, while Robert Bradford took the remaining 37% of the votes.

The AP also called Mike Chaney as the Insurance Commissioner. Chaney brought in nearly 64% of the votes, while his defender Bruce Burton received nearly 36% of the votes. At this time, only 27% of the votes have been counted.

— Pam Dankins

Lt. Gov., AG, SOS, Auditor races called for Republican incumbents

With around 19% to 22% of the vote in, The Associated Press has called the races for Mississippi’s Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General and State Auditor.

The Associated Press called the race for Lieutenant Governor at 8:23 p.m. Incumbent Delbert Hosemann will serve a second term.

With only 20% of the votes counted, Hosemann totaled 114,710 votes (65%), defeating challenger D. Ryan Grover. At the time, Grover walked away with roughly 67,000 of the votes.

Incumbent Republican Michael Watson has been reelected as Secretary of State, defeating his democratic challenger Ty Pinkins. Watson recorded 65% of the vote when the race was called. Pinkins recorded 35% of the vote.

Lynn Fitch, the incumbent Republican Attorney General, recorded 63.6% of the vote when her race was called, defeating Democrat Greta Kemp Martin.

Incumbent Republican Shad White defeated Democratic challenger Larry Bradford. The Associated Press called the race with only 22% of votes counted. White currently has 63.4% of the vote, while Bradford only has 36.7%.

— Charlie Drape and Pam Dankins

With 12% of vote in, Reeves maintains lead

Twelve percent of the statewide vote is in. With 56.1% of the that vote, Reeves lead continues to grow. He has recorded nearly 60,000 votes thus far.

Presley has recorded 42.4% of the vote and just under 45,000 votes.

Gray has increased only barely, with 1.4% of the vote and 1,640 votes.

Democratic legislator pleased with Hinds turnout

District 98 Rep. Daryl Porter, a Democrat from Summit who was attending the Brandon Presley gathering at the Faulkner in downtown Jackson, said he was pleased that voter turnout in Hinds County was so high they ran out of ballots.

At the same time, it's disappointing they didn't have enough ballots, he said. He is glad the courts are letting Hinds continue to let people vote, which is their right. That means more votes for Presley, he said.

— Lici Beveridge

Reeves posts very early lead with 4% of state vote in

With only about 4% of the vote so far reported by the Associated Press, incumbent Republican Tate Reeves is leading the governor’s race with 57.3% of the vote and just over 22,602 votes. Democratic challenger Brandon Presley has recorded 41.4% of the vote and 16,329 votes.

Independent Gwendolyn Gray has thus far received 1.2% of the vote and 486 votes. Results have only been reported in 13 Mississippi counties.

Experts will say it is much to soon to tell who will come away with the victory.

— Charlie Drape

Polls close in most of Mississippi

Polls are now closed everywhere in Mississippi, with the exception of Hinds County, which is open until at least 8 p.m. due to the ballot shortage issues.

See, the results here as they come in.

Mississippi election results: Mississippi election results 2023

Democratic Party files injunction to keep Hinds polls open until 9 p.m.

Mississippi Democratic Chairman Cheihk Taylor said the party has filed an injunction to allow polls in Hinds County to stay open until 9 p.m. because of a lack of ballots earlier in the day.

Hinds County had already been granted until 8 p.m. for polls to be open. However, Taylor said it is important to get the extra hour.

In either case, polls across Hinds County can remain open, not just the polls that were impacted by the ballot shortage, Taylor said. The other 81 counties may begin counting votes at 7 p.m., the normal closing time for the polls, Taylor said.

“This election is the most important election of our lifetime,” Taylor said. “We have a situation where several precincts have been noted to have run out of ballots. By no means should Mississippi voters be held hostage by clerical errors. So, we filed the injunction.”

Taylor said people who are in line should stay in line to make sure their votes get counted. He said as many as nine precincts were affected by the lack of ballots.

— Ross Reily

Secretary of State sends observers to polls short on ballots

A statement from the Secretary of State’s office says it is aware of the ballot problems in Hinds County, but says it is a local issue.

“While our office has no statutory authority to print nor distribute ballots to counties, we have been in constant communication with the local officials to assist in relaying complaints from our Elections Hotline and have dispersed poll observers to the area,” the statement reads.

For the General Election, Mississippi law charges counties to print 60% of the active voter count. County officials then decide how to distribute ballots among precincts.

A member of the Hinds County Election Commission declined to answer questions regarding the issue.

— Ross Reily

Some precincts given extra time due to ballot issues

Many voting precincts in Hinds country have been given a one-hour extension to 8 p.m. to allow more people time to vote, according to the Mississippi Democratic Party. Party Chairman Cheikh Taylor said that extension could be changed to 9 p.m., but that has not been confirmed yet.

The reason for the extension is that some locations in Hinds County ran out of ballots, and the Hinds County Election Commission was in the process of trying to print more ballots and deliver them as time was running out on voting Tuesday afternoon, according to Pete Perry of the Hinds County Republican Party.

As many as nine precincts have run out of ballots.

People’s Funeral Home and Fire Station 5 report good turnout

About three people were in-line at the People’s Funeral Home in downtown Jackson at approximately 5 p.m. But Casandra Shorter, a poll worker manning the desk where residents show their IDs, said turn-out has been good.

“The younger generation is really coming out,” Shorter said.

Shirley Cosey said the same. She has been working as the returning and receiving manager at the Fire Station 5 precinct off North State Street for the past five years. Overall, she said turn-out has been better than previous years.

— Charlie Drape

This Jackson precinct has low turnout, plenty of ballots

Poll workers Linda Adams Smith and Bertha Moses expressed frustration at the lack of voter turn-out their precinct location, the U.S. Air Force Meps Liason on South State Street in downtown Jackson.

"We've got plenty of ballots, just not enough voters," Smith said.

Poll workers speculated that the low turn out was due to their voting precinct having been changed twice. Before this year's election, the precinct was located at the now defunct Eudora Welty Library. Since the library's closing, the precinct moved to the Old Capitol Inn for the primaries.

Now, it has changed for the third time. Smith and Moses both said not enough people were notified, so there has been confusion on where to go. They sent another poll worker to the Old Capitol Inn to stand outside and tell confused voters that the precinct had changed.

— Charlie Drape

More: Mississippi general election results 2023

Ballots run out at several Hinds Co. precincts

Many locations in Hinds County ran out of ballots and the Hinds County Election Commission was in the process of trying to print more ballots and deliver them as time was running out on voting Tuesday afternoon, according to Pete Perry of the Hinds County Republican Party.

As many as nine precincts have run out of ballots, according to published reports.

"The election commission did not print enough ballots for the precincts. That's the bottom line," Perry said. "Folks have been standing in line for hours waiting to vote and many of them have left."

According to Perry, the election commission is expected to provide ballots for 60% of registered voters to each precinct.

Both Republicans and Democrats are discussing options for keeping polls open after the 7 p.m. deadline.

Calls to the Secretary of State's office were not immediately returned.

"There is a process to print more ballots but it takes a long time to do that," Perry said. "It's not like just making copies in your office."

More than 72,000 people from Hinds County voted in governor's election in 2019 and around 78% voted for Democrat Jim Hood.

A representative at the Hinds County Election Commission declined to confirm how many precincts were affected Tuesday.

— Ross Reily

Madison precinct sees good turnout

Ridgecrest Baptist Church on Old Canton Road in Madison had hit a lull around 4 p.m. but had already seen 41% of its 2328 registered voters earlier in the day.Election worker Judy Douglass said it’s been a great turnout so far. Forty people were lined up ready to go when the doors opened at 7 a.m.Douglass said she was happy with the turnout especially since the precinct didn’t see as many voters at the primary elections that happened in August.

Turnout good at Blackburn Middle School, Precinct 51

Poll Manager Drew Overton, 18, said voter turnout has been good for Blackburn Middle School in Jackson.

As of 2 p.m., 371 of the 2,003 registered people at this precinct had casted their votes, totaling to 18%. Last year, voter turnout for this precinct totaled to 23% (476 cast ballots).

Most elections that I’ve worked here maybe had 500 people at the end of the day, but I think we are going to get more than that by the end of the day,” Overton said Tuesday. “I’m really excited about that.”

There were no lines outside or inside of the location going into Tuesday afternoon; however, voters did promote candidates from across the street.

Eric Brown, a campaigner for the re-election of Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, said he was here to “promote the vote” to bypassers.

“Whoever you are voting for and whatever your cause is, exercise your vote,” Brown said.

— Pam Dankins

Making his voice heard

Hattiesburg resident Alēhandro Wooten said voting is a way for his voice to be heard.

"Voting is our platform," he said. "People have suffered and even died so we could have the right to vote."

Voting got off to fast start in Rankin County

Voting got off to a fast start Tuesday in Rankin County.

“There has been a steady flow all day,” said Rankin County Circuit Clerk Rebecca “Becky” Boyd.

She said the number of has been up at most precincts compared to those voting in the recent August primary elections.

Boyd said everything had been operating smoothly with the election, with no major problems reported.

“Yes, it has been very steady,” said poll worker Ben Pyle who was assisting voters at the Crossgates United Methodist Church precinct in Brandon. As of 11:45 a.m. Pyle said 480 of the precincts 2232 registered voters had cast ballots.

Voting for county officials in the General Election was mostly a formality in the heavily Republican county, where Donald Trump led Democrat Joe Biden almost three to one in the 2020 U.S Presidential race. In the county of nearly 160,000 people, not a single Democratic candidate filed to run for any local office in the current election cycle.

The single contested local office in today’s Rankin County General Election is for Supervisor, District 4, where independent candidate Ava Harvey is challenging Republican incumbent Steve Gaines

Harvey, who is seeking to become one of Rankin County’s first Black elected officials in modern history, serves as pastor of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church near Brandon. The church served as host to several meetings organized by the NAACP earlier this year where allegations against the Goon Squad were first made public.

Gaines is a retired federal investigator and the owner of Gaines Angus Ranch.

The district encompasses most of northeast Rankin County stretching southward to the town of Pelahatchie to the east and Brandon’s populous Crossgates subdivision to the west.

— Ed Inman

Hattiesburg Cultural Center has large turnout

Hattiesburg Cultural Center poll manager Fannie Evans said voter turnout had been steady, with roughly 150 of the precinct's 1,400 registered voters casting their ballots by 10:30 a.m.

"We have been blessed this morning with a very large turnout of voters," she said.

— Lici Beveridge

Crystal Springs voting going smoothly

Roughly a dozen people stood in line to vote just after noon at the J.T. Biggs, Jr. Memorial Library in Crystal Springs where about 400 people, or about 20% of those registered at the precinct, had voted by that time. Outside, the small parking lot was beyond full.

"It's been a steady crowd," said Linda Murray, receive and return manager said. "We've been slack for maybe 10 or 15 minutes and then they pick back up.

"That's pretty good this year. We're probably going to pick up more after work."

Mark Bell was among those voting during his lunch break and said the governor's race between incumbent Tate Reeves and democratic challenger Brandon Presley was the main reason he was voting.

"I think it's important because of the economy and my values — traditional values," Bell said.

He had similar feelings about the Lt. Governor's race.

"I think it's pretty much as important for the same reasons."

— Brian Broom

Greater Harvest church slow going

A campaign sign greets voters as they arrive to vote at Precinct 72.

The voting room inside Greater Harvest Baptist Church in Jackson was quiet, but by 11:10 a.m., 98 people had sat down on the folding chairs to vote on Election Day, Tuesday.

"It's very important," Yulanda Johnson, 42, said about voting. "It'll make a big difference because our ancestors had to fight just to have the opportunity to vote."

— Lauren Witte

Turnout steady in Hattiesburg

Voter turnout has been steady, poll managers in Hattiesburg said.

At Hardy Street Baptist precinct, "We're having a great turnout," Megan Williamson said. "We haven't slowed down all day."

— Lici Beveridge

Richland Community Center hopping

People file into the Richland Community Center to vote on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023.

By 11:10 a.m. over 340 people from South Richland and over 260 people from North Richland had voted at Precinct 114.

"I think it's a good turnout," Poll Manager Tammy Rankin said. "And no problems. Knock on some wood."

— Lauren Witte

No waiting at China Grove polling place in Madison

There were no lines by mid-morning at China Grove Church on Mannsdale Road in Madison, but there was a consistent crawl of voters entering the church. By 10:30 a.m., 350 of the 1,889 people registered at that precinct had cast their votes, totaling about 19%.

Poll Manager Alice Coleman said the amount was not the highest she had ever seen, but it was not the lowest. She said she always sees a good amount of people when there is a gubernatorial race on the ballot.

Amid dozens of signs lining Mannsdale Road outside the small church, Linda Bennett was the only one by mid-morning holding a sign. Her sign read, “Randall Bolden, Election Commissioner, District 2.”

Bennett said she came out today to support Bolden because he is an unbiased candidate. She said Bolden is a “millennial taking care of business” that isn’t easily swayed. Bolden is an Independent candidate running against Republican candidate Barbara Gross.

— Mary Boyte

Turnout steady at Willie Morris Library polling place

Amidst the backdrop of towering bookshelves inside the Willie Morris Library, 4912 Old Canton Road, voters cast their ballots for Tuesday’s election.

From 9:45 to 10:30 a.m., primarily middle aged and elderly residents came and went from the poll location.

Willie Morris Library, precinct 34, is one of the five voting locations Jackson/Hinds Library Systems announced for people to cast their ballots.

Other locations per JHLS are listed below:

• Precinct 1: Military Building - 664 South State St. (Was formerly at the Eudora Welty Library)

• Precinct 28: Medgar Evers Library

• Precinct 28: GoldenKey Community Center (Same location as Hamer Library)

• Precinct U1: Evelyn Taylor Majoure Library

— Pam Dankins

Turnout heavy at Madison polling place

By 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, more than 500 people had cast their ballots at the Pilgrim Rest M.B. Baptist Church polling place in Madison.

The polling place bailiff said turnout was heavier than in the past few primary elections.

Larry Coleman of Madison said he always votes but on Tuesday he was particularly interested in the governor’s race, and he voted for Incumbent Republican Tate Reeves.

“He is better than the alternative,” Coleman said.

— Scott Hawkins

Reeves, Presley cast their ballots

Gov. Tate Reeves and wife Elee Reeves arrived at the U.S. Military Entrance Processing Station shortly after 10 a.m. to a gaggle of media in Jackson to vote in the general election Tuesday.

The small polling station, hosting a steady flow of voters, was off limits to the press, which was permitted to shoot images from the door. Reeves worked the room greeting poll workers, thanking them for their work before leaving.

After Reeves left, things returned to normal. The precinct was quiet with an occasional voter going in and out.

Democratic nominee for governor Brandon Presley also cast his vote Tuesday morning. Presley, trying to become the first Democrat to win the state's top seat since the 1999 election, was joined by his wife Katelyn Mabus Presley as they filled out their ballots in their home precinct in Nettleton at the Nettleton Methodist Church Life Center on Tuesday.

— Barbara Gauntt

Voting at Free Will Baptist in Pearl

Six booths awaited voters by a mural that reads "Raising Cane For Christ" at First Free Will Baptist Church in Pearl on Election Day.

By 9:15 a.m., 80 people had sat down in those seats and marked their votes. One of those 80, Linn McKie, came out "to make sure that my vote is cast and that it makes a difference," she said.

The day had a rocky start for the poll workers at Precinct 510. Poll Manager Jill Middleton said that when they arrived, they had the wrong machines, but they were brought the correct ones quickly.

"Everyone that came in here voted," Middleton said.

— Lauren Witte

Voting at Lake Caroline

A steady but small stream of people trickled in and out of the Lake Caroline Clubhouse at approximately 9 a.m. Tuesday to cast ballots in the General Election.

The bailiff, Jacob Stubbs, said he noticed the crowd today was smaller than it normally is, but more people usually come to vote between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., with people who lined up before 7 p.m. voting after the polls close.

However, poll manager Ann Price said there is a very good turn out so far with 358 voters as of 9:15 a.m. She said when the doors opened, there was a line already formed. There is never a still moment and someone is always coming through the doors, she said.

Both Stubbs and Price said they expect more turnout as the day progresses.

— Mary Boyte

Voting in Clinton

Precinct PN, at the Clinton Fire Station, 1973 Pinehaven Road, Clinton, had a slim line of voters waiting to cast their ballots, early Tuesday morning.Voters said they came to beat the rush, only to find out they were the rush.It wasn’t until around 8-8:30 a.m. when a trail of people strolled in and the line lengthened.

— Pam Dankins

V-O-T-E!

Fifth-grade students wait to greet voters with signs and smiles at Spann Elementary in Jackson on Election Day morning.

"V - O - T -E!" they chanted as people walked in to vote.

"Be our vote!" Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann arrived with his wife, Lynn, and granddaughter, Carson, to no line at 7:45 a.m.

— Lauren Witte

Voting at Sunnybrook Estates

Voting was brisk at Sunnybrook Estates in Madison early Tuesday.

There are 767 people registered to vote at this precinct and more than 30 had voted by 7:15 a.m.

It was early in the process, but there had been no irregularities reported there. Everything was running smoothly.

While Madison The City is a Republican stronghold, there were no campaign signs for Democratic candidates outside the precinct. There were only signs for Gov. Tate Reeves and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann.

— Ross Reily

Polls are open

Polls throughout Mississippi are now open. They remain open until the last voter in line at 7 p.m. has had a chance to cast a ballot.

All you need to cast your ballot Mississippi election: Everything you need to cast your ballot

Justice Department to monitor polling places in Madison, Panola counties

The U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division will be monitoring Tuesday's polling places in Madison and Panola counties to make sure they are in compliance with federal voting rights laws.

Federal officials said Monday the DOJ will assign federal observers to monitor the election in a few other states, including New Jersey, Rhode Island and Virginia.

The Civil Rights Division enforces the federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all citizens to access the ballot. The division regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities nationwide.

In addition, anyone who believes their civil rights may have been violated at the polls may file a complaint with Civil Rights Division personnel online at civilrights.justice.gov or by calling 800-253-3931.

For more information, visit justice.gov/crt/voting-section and justice.gov/crt.

— Lici Beveridge

First in line

The sun had barely broken over the treetops on Election Day morning, and the line at Precinct 85 at Jackson Fire Station 26 was already well formed. Latasha Willis, first in line, arrived at 6:40 a.m. "At this particular precinct, the lines are very long," Willis said. "We have some active and engaged voters here."

Before voting started at 7 a.m., the line was out to the street and curving along the road.

— Barbara Gauntt

Exercising the right to vote

As the polls opened early Tuesday morning, more than 60 voters at Precinct 85, 2223 Flag Chapel Dr., Jackson, prepared to exercise their democratic right to vote.

One voter said he was determined to exercise his right to vote, holding his identification card in his hand and saying he wants to change his community.

— Pam Dankins

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi Election: Follow along here