EDITORIAL/District 4 election justice
Republican Jim Harreld has filed a challenge to the Nov. 5 District 4 supervisor election alleging issues with split precincts where individuals who were not supposed to get ballots did, among other things.
According to Harreld's petition, there were issues with improper votes throughout several of the 16 precincts, particularly in the split precincts. Certified results show Harreld lost to Democrat Karl Banks by 57 votes.
Ironically, Banks was the longtime supervisor representing District 4 before he lost by two votes in 2015 to Republican challenger David Bishop. Bishop was defeated last summer by Harreld in the Republican primary.
Banks' challenge, strung out over nearly four years, was ultimately dismissed.
Harreld's petition argues that poll managers in the three split precincts — Fellowship Bible Church, Twin Lakes Baptist Church and Canton National Guard Armory — provided improper ballots to voters.
The petition also alleges that 33 illegal absentee ballots were accepted and counted but should not have been due to a number of infractions, from no voter signature on the application to no witness signatures. Additionally, the petition alleges that nine affidavit ballots were improperly accepted.
Furthermore, the petition alleges that 11 voters at the Ridgeland First United Methodist Church precinct who do not reside in District 4 voted for Banks on Nov. 5. Approximately 25 other voters at Canton Anderson Lodge, Madison County Baptist Family Life Center and Tougaloo precincts also voted in the race though they do not reside in District 4.
Obviously, there are questions, if not out-right irregularities, but are the irregularities fraud or plain stupidity?
Courts are reluctant to overturn elections, as they should be, so all of the evidence must be weighed carefully.