Voters in several states head to the polls on November 8 to elect a variety of offices and decide on a number of ballot initiatives. While off-year elections don’t typically draw the same attention as their even-year counterparts, this election season will provide several election administration storylines worth watching.Voters in Mississippi will decide next week whether or not they want to show photo ID on future election days.
Initiative 27, sponsored by Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann and State Sen. Joey Fillingane is appearing on the November ballot after the state senate failed to take up the matter in its last session. If approved by the voters, the state’s Constitution would be amended to require voters to show a government issued photo ID in order to cast a ballot.
Following in the footsteps of Indiana and other states, if approved, the law would provide free identification through the state’s Department of Public Safety. It is estimated that it will cost approximately $1.5 million to provide the necessary free IDs. Hosemann and other supporters argue that if approved, the measure will prevent voter fraud in the Magnolia State. Opponents of the amendment disagree and contend that requiring photo ID will disenfranchise many Mississippi voters, especially minorities.
Full Article: electionlineWeekly.