Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith's comments on Sunday voting in Mississippi draw criticism

JACKSON, Mississippi - U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith caused a stir on social media Wednesday after making a comment that elections in Mississippi would never take place on Sundays for religious reasons.

Hyde-Smith made her comments in response to a comment from U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer during a Senate Rules and Administration Committee hearing on the For the People Act. The bill, if passed by Congress, would expand voting rights, limit partisan gerrymandering and create new ethics rules for lawmakers, among other policies.

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Schumer presented a question earlier in the meeting, asking why Georgia proposed to limit in-person voting or election activities taking place on Sundays. Hyde-Smith responded

"I can't speak for Georgia, but I can speak for Mississippi on why we would never have an election on a Sunday," she said. "Etched in the U.S. Senate chamber is 'In God We Trust.' ... In God's word, in Exodus 20:18, it says 'Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.'"

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Some Twitter users pointed out that Sunday is not recognized as the Sabbath by all religions, including those who practice the Jewish faith, such as Schumer. Others mentioned that some Christians perform other tasks on Sundays besides attending church.

"Pretty sure voting is no worse than drinking, going to car races, going shopping, and all the other things Christians do on Sundays," one user wrote.

Contact Keisha Rowe at nrowe@gannett.com, on Twitter or at (601) 760-2483.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith draws criticism on Twitter for voting comments