MCCOMB, Miss. (AP) - The Board of Selectmen will go ahead with a plan to change McComb’s general election date once again after their first attempt resulted in a schedule that conflicts with congressional primaries.
In 2011, the board voted to set the primary election for May 6 and the general election for June 3.
In fall 2013, officials realized that would mean voters would have two different elections on the same day - with most having to vote at two different precincts.
The Enterprise-Journal reported (https://bit.ly/1d7PauM) the board has voted to again amend the city charter, potentially moving the general election to June 17 while leaving primary election dates unchanged.
City administrator Quordiniah Lockley said the change requires approval of Gov. Phil Bryant and other state officials.
Board attorney Wayne Dowdy told selectmen at a recent work session that he worried the election date was now too close to change, but selectmen kept pushing, saying the change needed to be made in order to eliminate voter confusion.
Dowdy must follow a similar process to the one that changed the election dates in 2011. Approval of the Justice Department will not be required since a U.S. Supreme Court decision changed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to remove federal preclearance requirements for election changes in Mississippi and several other states.
City officials elected in June would take office on July 1.
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Information from: Enterprise-Journal, https://www.enterprise-journal.com
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