Mississippi
Voter purge, military rights, ballot harvesting: Where several Mississippi election bills stand
Mississippi lawmakers, within the remaining two weeks of the 2023 legislative session, will hammer out particulars of a significant election invoice that might, amongst different issues, give state officers energy to purge “inactive” voters from the registered voter rolls.
Two different main election payments have already handed and await signature or veto from Gov. Tate Reeves.
Mississippi In the present day compiled an replace beneath of the invoice that’s nonetheless alive and summaries of the 2 payments which have already been despatched to the governor.
Home Invoice 1310
The Senate has stripped from an elections invoice a Home provision that restored voting rights to navy veterans convicted of felonies.
The supply restoring suffrage to veterans who had accomplished their sentence was eliminated t within the Senate Elections Committee chaired by Sen. Jeff Tate, R-Meridian. The invoice nonetheless supplies a mechanism to take away registered voters from the rolls if they don’t vote inside a specified time period or carry out different capabilities associated to their voter registration, reminiscent of responding to jury responsibility.
Whereas the Senate eliminated the language giving the suitable to vote again to veterans, that language stays alive within the course of as Home and Senate leaders attempt to hammer out the variations between the 2 chambers on Home Invoice 1310.
However it’s unlikely that the Home management will attempt in the course of the negotiations course of to have the availability restoring voting rights to navy veterans included within the remaining model of the invoice. Whereas the modification restoring voting rights for veterans supplied by Rep. Tommy Reynolds, D-Water Valley, was accredited overwhelmingly by the total membership throughout a ground vote, it was opposed by Home leaders.
Rep. Brent Powell, R-Brandon, is the lead creator on the laws and might be one of many leaders working to hammer out a distinction between the Home and Senate variations of the invoice. He stated the Senate contends the language granting voting rights to veterans is unconstitutional, although it has lengthy been the coverage of the Legislature and by no means challenged that voting rights might be restored to giant teams of individuals, reminiscent of veterans, with out altering the felony disenfranchisement language within the Mississippi Structure. After World Conflict II the Legislature did simply that — restore voting rights to veterans — with out amending the structure.
“I’ll ask them (Senate negotiators) about it, however I’m not actually for it,” stated Powell, who opposed restoring voting rights to veterans convicted of felonies when it was supplied on the Home ground.
Mississippi is one in all a handful of states — fewer than 10 — that don’t restore the suitable to vote to all individuals convicted of a felony in some unspecified time in the future after they full their sentence. A problem to the felony disenfranchisement provision of the Mississippi Structure is pending earlier than the U.S. Supreme Court docket.
The portion of the invoice that Home and Senate leaders assist would have the potential to take away registered voters from the ballot books. Beneath the availability, individuals who don’t vote throughout a two-year interval might be positioned on an inactive record and might solely vote by way of affidavit, which means election officers should take motion to formally settle for the poll earlier than it may be counted. To regain unencumbered voting rights, the particular person must take affirmative motion, reminiscent of returning a affirmation card or responding to jury responsibility or voting in the course of the subsequent two years. In the event that they do none of these issues in the course of the two-year interval, they’re faraway from the rolls and should re-register to vote.
Because the invoice was debated, many Democrats and a handful of Republicans expressed reservations about eradicating individuals from the rolls for not voting. Sen. David Jordan, D-Greenwood, stated legislative leaders had been taking drastic motion to take away individuals from the rolls with out offering any examples of the voter fraud they had been attempting to forestall.
“The fitting to vote consists of the suitable to not vote,” stated Sen. David Blount, D-Jackson.
Tate stated, “Each vote is treasured. So one fraudulent vote is simply as unhealthy (or) as treasured as one (good) vote. What we wish to do is clear up the voter rolls. When we now have individuals on the rolls by title solely and they don’t seem to be truly residing there, that could be a vessel for fraud. And sure, there’s voter fraud. What this does is give our native election officers one other instrument to wash up their rolls.”
Sen. Hob Bryan, D-Amory, stated there are numerous people who find themselves on the rolls, however solely vote from time to time.
He identified a predominantly African American precinct in Amory the place usually between 400 and 500 individuals vote. However in 2008 when Barack Obama was working for president greater than 800 turned out to vote within the election the place an African American was elected president for the primary time within the nation’s historical past.
“How might you inform these individuals they don’t seem to be allowed to vote?” he requested. Bryan added he’s positive the identical phenomenon in numerous precincts occurred when Donald Trump was on the poll. He stated there are registered voters who don’t vote as a result of they don’t seem to be enamored by the candidates on the poll, however they shouldn’t be denied the suitable to vote when they’re excited by somebody on the poll.
He stated the invoice had the potential to harm people who find themselves registered and eligible to vote, however solely accomplish that sporadically.
The invoice additionally offers Secretary of State Michael Watson the authority to carry out election audits and submit experiences in all 82 counties throughout two election cycles — the 2023 statewide election and 2024 presidential election.
Senate Invoice 2358
Two different election payments already are heading to the governor, who is anticipated to signal them into regulation.
Senate Invoice 2358, authored by Tate, would prohibit the observe of a 3rd social gathering gathering a voter’s absentee poll and delivering it to a clerk’s workplace or voting precinct. In some states, this observe has change into widespread and supporters of the ban say it opens the method to election fraud by marketing campaign operatives harvesting absentee ballots.
However opponents of the measure, principally Democrats in each chambers, stated it’s aimed toward voter suppression and is an answer searching for an issue that doesn’t exist in Mississippi. Additionally they raised considerations it could stifle voting by the navy, aged individuals, individuals in nursing properties or disabled individuals who extra typically vote absentee.
If signed into regulation, the invoice would solely permit U.S. Postal Service or widespread carriers; election employees doing their official duties; or household, family members or caregivers of the absentee voter to ship ballots.
Barely totally different variations of the measure had handed the Home 73-44, and Senate 37-15, on principally social gathering line votes.
Rep. Willie Bailey, D-Greenville, tried to kill the invoice with a movement on the Home ground, saying, “It is a unhealthy invoice, individuals.”
“That is oppressing individuals’s rights to vote in a democracy,” Bailey stated. “That is making harmless individuals criminals … Everyone stands up right here and salutes any time you say navy, however then that is going to harm the navy, senior residents and disabled … What’s fallacious with us?”
Home Invoice 1306
A measure that handed Wednesday would prohibit individuals from being on the poll for elected workplace in Mississippi if they’ve didn’t file marketing campaign finance experiences. Home Invoice 1306 would require a candidate to have filed any required marketing campaign finance experiences for the final 5 years as a way to be eligible to be on the poll.
The measure additionally included a provision prohibiting any unauthorized particular person from requesting an absentee poll for another person — making it a voter fraud crime punishable by a effective of $500 to $5,000 or being jailed as much as a 12 months. This provision drew a lot debate earlier than the Home voted 73-37 to ship it to the governor. The Senate had handed it 52-0.
Rep. John Hines, D-Greenville, questioned whether or not this measure is “an try and railroad individuals in nursing properties or who’re disabled” or in any other case unable to get their very own absentee poll from voting. He questioned whether or not a nursing residence director might get absentee ballots from a county clerk for residents of the house.
Home Elections Chairman Value Wallace, R-Mendenhall, responded, “That’s not the intent of this invoice,” and stated that if nursing residence residents requested a director or different caregiver get them a poll there could be no downside. “But when that particular person working that nursing residence does that with out them asking for it, it’s fraudulent.”
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State debuted 41 new players against Eastern Kentucky, including 23 transfers. But one of the biggest transfer portal additions wasn’t on the field and may not be again this week.
Senior receiver Kelly Akharaiyi was left off Mississippi State’s depth chart that was released and coach Jeff Lebby didn’t provide much clarity on the situation either.
“He’s getting closer and closer,” Lebby said at Tuesday morning press conference. “We need to be patient with him. We hope he has a good week and can create some confidence for himself more than anything. But I’m not ready to say he’s going to be available.”
Akharaiyi was one of the transfers most were looking forward to seeing in Lebby’s fast-paced, passing offense. But he was held out of season-opener for what was thought to be a minor injury. However, his uncertain status might be a sign of a more serious injury?
Or is Lebby playing a game of cat-and-mouse with Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham? We’ll found out soon enough.
QB1 – 2 Blake Shapen, 6-1, 210 lbs., Sr.
QB2 – 16 Chris Parson, 6-1, 215 lbs., Rs Fr.
or – 0 Michael Van Buren Jr., 6-1, 200 lbs., Fr.
RB1 – 24 Keyvone Lee, 6-0, 225 lbs., Sr.
-or- 21 Davon Booth, 5-10, 205 lbs., Sr.
RB2 – 20 Johnnie Daniels, 5-10, 200 lbs., Jr.
SLWR1 – 3 Kevin Coleman, 5-11, 180 lbs., Jr.
SLWR2 – 8 Creed Whittemore, 5-11, 185 lbs., So.
SLWR 3 – 80 Kade Kolka, 5-11, 190 lbs., Sr.
WR1 – 6 Jordan Mosley, 6-0, 195 lbs., Jr.
WR2 – 5 Stonka Burnside, 6-0, 200 lbs., Fr.
WR3 – 13 Sanfrisco Magee, 6-2, 200 lbs., Fr.
WR1 – 14 Trent Hudson 6-3 180 Jr.
WR2 – 7 Mario Craver 5-10 170 Fr.
WR3 – 11 Jaden Walley 6-0 190 Sr.
TE1 – 18 Seydou Traore, 6-4, 235 lbs., R-Jr.
– or – 84 Justin Ball, 6-6, 250 lbs., Sr.
TE2 – 86 Nick Lauderdale, 6-3, 225 lbs., Sr.
or – 10 Cameron Ball, 6-6, 250 lbs., So.
LT1 – 66 Makylan Pounders, 6-5, 310 lbs., Jr.
LT2 – 51 Luke Work, 6-6, 305 lbs., Fr.
– or – 74 Jimothy Lewis Jr., 6-6, 310 lbs., Fr.
LG1 – 75 Jacoby Jackson, 6-6, 320 lbs., Jr.
LG2 – 53 Malik Ellis, 6-5, 285 lbs., So.
C1 – 67 Ethan Miner, 6-2, 305 lbs., Sr.
C2 – 72 Canon Boone, 6-4, 315 lbs., Jr.
RG1 – 77 Marlon Martinez, 6-5, 320 lbs., Sr.
RG2 – 52 Grant Jackson, 6-6, 325 lbs., Sr.
RT1 – 76 Albert Reese IV, 6-7, 330 lbs., Jr.
RT2 – 55 Leon Bell, 6-8, 325 lbs., R-Jr.
RT3 – 78 Amari Smith, 6-7, 325 lbs., R-Fr.
DT1 – 22 Kedrick Bingley-Jones, 6-4, 310 lbs., Jr.
– or – 23 Trevion Williams, 6-4, 295 lbs., R-Fr.
DT2 – 98 Ashun Shepphard, 6-3, 280 lbs., Jr.
DT1 – 35 Kalvin Dinkins, 6-2, 315 lbs., So.
– or – 8 Sulaiman Kpaka, 6-3, 300 lbs., Sr.
DT2 – 92 Eric Taylor, 6-4, 310 lbs., Jr.
– or – 90 Kai McClendon, 6-2, 305 lbs., Fr.
DE1 – 9 De’Monte Russell, 6-4, 285 lbs., Sr.
DE2 – 91 Deonte Anderson, 6-3, 270 lbs., Jr.
– or – 46 Joseph Head Jr., 6-4, 240 lbs., R-Fr.
JLB1 – 11 Ty Cooper, 6-4, 245 lbs., Jr.
– or – 44 Branden Jennings, 6-3, 240 lbs., Jr.
JLB2 – 36 Donterry Russell, 6-4, 225 lbs., So.
MLB1 – 7 Stone Blanton, 6-2, 230 lbs., Jr.
MLB2 – 26 JP Purvis, 6-1, 245 lbs., Sr.
DLB1 – 40 Nic Mitchell, 6-2, 230 lbs., Jr.
– or – 5 John Lewis, 6-3, 240 lbs., Jr.
DLB2 – 16 Zakari Tillman, 6-2, 225 lbs., So.
FS1 – 2 Isaac Smith, 6-0, 205 lbs., So.
FS2 – 12 Tyler Woodard, 6-2, 200 lbs., Jr.
SS1 – 21 Hunter Washington, 5-11, 190 lbs., Jr.
SS2 – 27 Chris Keys Jr., 6-0, 190 lbs., Jr.
– or – 17 Jordan Morant, 6-0, 210 lbs., Sr.
CB1 – 1 Kelley Jones, 6-4, 195 lbs., R-Fr.
– or – 6 Traveon Wright, 6-0, 180 lbs., R-Fr.
CB2 – 13 Raydarious Jones, 6-2, 180 lbs., Sr.
– or – 18 Khamauri Rogers, 6-0, 180 lbs., So.
CB1 – 14 Brice Pollock, 6-1, 190 lbs., So.
CB2 – 4 DeAgo Brumfield, 6-0, 190 lbs., Sr.
K1 – 80 Kyle Ferrie, 6-1, 205 lbs., So.
K2 – 82 Nick Barr-Mira, 6-0, 185 lbs., Sr.
K3 – 49 Marlon Hauck, 6-3, 195 lbs., So.
P1 – 82 Nick Barr-Mira, 6-0, 185 lbs., Sr.
P2 – 83 Zach Haynes, 6-1, 195 lbs., Sr.
P3 – 88 Ethan Pulliam, 6-1, 190 lbs., R-Fr.
KO1 – 49 Marlon Hauck, 6-3, 195 lbs., So.
KO2 – 82 Nick Barr-Mira, 6-0, 185 lbs., Sr.
PR1 – 3 Kevin Coleman, 5-11, 180 lbs., Jr.
PR2 – 8 Creed Whittemore, 5-11, 185 lbs., So.
KR1 – 21 Davon Booth, 5-10, 205 lbs., Sr.
– or – 20 Johnnie Daniels, 5-10, 200 lbs., Jr.
– or – 3 Kevin Coleman, 5-11, 180 lbs., Jr.
Mississippi State at Arizona State: How to Watch Bulldogs Football vs the Sun Devils
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Mississippi State at Arizona State, Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
BetMGM College Football Odds: Arizona State by 6 1/2.
Series record: First meeting.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Arizona State and Mississippi State both had dominant wins in the season-opening weekend and now have a tougher challenge when they face each other on Saturday night. The Sun Devils are trying to build off an impressive 48-7 win over Wyoming and prove they might be a factor in the Big 12 race. Arizona State has never beaten an SEC opponent. Mississippi State plays its second game under new coach Jeff Lebby. The Bulldogs beat Eastern Kentucky 56-7 in their season opener..
KEY MATCHUP
Mississippi State QB Blake Shapen vs. the Arizona State defense. The Sun Devils scored a touchdown on the second play of their opener when Zyrus Fiaseu picked off a pass and returned it to the end zone. It was one of two interceptions on the day for Arizona State. Shapen had a great debut against Eastern Kentucky but will face a much tougher defense on Saturday.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Mississippi State: Shapen had a terrific first game with the Bulldogs, throwing for 247 yards and three touchdowns while also running for 44 yards and a TD against Eastern Kentucky. The 6-foot-1 senior played the previous three college seasons at Baylor with mixed success. Shapen has thrown a TD pass in 12 consecutive games dating to this time at Baylor in 2022.
Arizona State: RB Cam Skattebo led a balanced rushing attack against Wyoming, gaining 49 yards and scoring a touchdown. Skattebo was a do-it-all player for Arizona State last year, spending time at quarterback, running back and receiver. The Sun Devils might not need him to be as versatile this season, but he’s still a threat from just about anywhere on the field.
FACTS & FIGURES
Mississippi State had six different players score touchdowns against Eastern Kentucky. … The Bulldogs’ 93.7 passing grade in the opener was the second-best mark in all of the FBS, trailing only Purdue, according to Pro Football Focus. … Mississippi State’s Kevin Coleman Jr. returned five punts for 117 yards last week. … Arizona State was credited with just two missed tackles on defense in the opener, tied for the third-lowest tally among FBS schools. … Skattebo is 270 rushing yards away from reaching 3,000 in his career. He is 342 all-purpose yards away from reaching 4,000 and 202 receiving yards away from reaching 1,000.
___
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STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football is preparing to play a team that, at least through one game, looks vastly improved from last season.
Coach Jeff Lebby admitted on Monday, and Bulldog players have noticed it too after Arizona State (1-0) thumped Wyoming 48-7 in its opener.
MSU (1-0) must also factor in the late kickoff that is scheduled Saturday (9:30 p.m. CT, ESPN) at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. Mississippi is hot, but so is Arizona — a different kind of hot, too.
Modifications and remedies are being made, such as the team leaving Starkville on Thursday instead of how it normally would on a Friday for a Saturday game.
“For our guys, just knowing exactly what we are getting into,” Lebby said. “We continue to talk about that through yesterday and this morning and (are) having those conversations to understand what it’s going to look like late in the week. We got to do a great job from a preparation standpoint of how we are hydrating, how we are eating and how we are resting to give us the ability to go on the road on this flight and be able to be at our best Saturday night.”
Just this week, Phoenix broke a record with its 100th straight day of 100-degree temperatures. According to AccuWeather, the high on Saturday in Tempe will be 107 degrees with a low of 86. The temperature should dip to around 91 near kickoff with a humidity of 24%.
“Coach Lebby has already been harping on that,” tight end Justin Ball said. “We’ve already been hydrating and making sure we are getting rest every single day. We leave on Thursday, so we already talked about the plan to make sure we are hydrating the entire plane ride there, making sure when we get there we get acclimated as quickly as you can and just staying together. Making sure we’re focused, make sure we keep the goal first and then execute the game plan.”
MORE: Jeff Lebby says Mississippi State football didn’t put on a good enough show. Here’s how he’s wrong
Mississippi State played well the last time it played in Arizona
The Bulldogs played Arizona in Tucson two seasons ago. They squandered a pedestrian Wildcats team 39-17. Kickoff for that game was at 8 p.m. PST though the temperature was 84 degrees at game time.
Not many players remain on Mississippi State’s roster from that 2022 season. But the ones who are, like linebacker Nic Mitchell, can benefit from the experience and also share it with teammates.
“We know it’s going to be a long flight, so we know we got to be hydrated,” Mitchell said. “It gives people experience that have done it before and they can tell the young guys how it’s going to be in the flight, how you got to hydrate and stuff like that.”
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
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