The affidavit ballot deadline for DeSoto County voters who could not show photo ID on Election Day is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10. A nonpartisan group, VoteRiders, is offering free rides to the county clerk’s office for voters who need to finish the process before time runs out.
With more than 2,000 affidavit ballots under review in DeSoto County and Mississippi’s U.S. Senate race still too close to call, a ballot that isn’t cured by Tuesday afternoon won’t be counted.
Who needs to act before the affidavit ballot deadline
Not every affidavit voter has to do anything else. The deadline applies to one group:
Must act: Voters who cast an affidavit ballot on Nov. 3 because they did not have acceptable photo ID. They must bring that ID to the DeSoto County Circuit Clerk’s office, on the second floor of the courthouse in Hernando, by 5 p.m. Tuesday.
No further action needed: Voters who cast affidavit ballots for other reasons, such as a name missing from the poll book or a polling-place question. The Election Commission will review those ballots.
The Circuit Clerk’s office can be reached at 662-469-8007. Under state law, the cure window is five business days after the election. Monday, Nov. 9, and Tuesday, Nov. 10, are the last two days to visit.
VoteRiders offering free rides and ID help
VoteRiders, a nonpartisan organization that focuses on free voter ID assistance, said it will give affidavit voters a ride to their county clerk’s office to confirm their identity, WDAM reported in a story shared by Action News 5 on Sunday.
Jessica Carter with VoteRiders said many voters don’t realize they have to go to the clerk’s office in person after casting an affidavit ballot. The group helps people get an ID or the documents needed to obtain one, and it covers those costs, according to the report. Carter said the group is working with organizations that have long been doing voter outreach in Mississippi.
Voters who want a ride can call VoteRiders at 866-432-8683.
What happens next in DeSoto County
After the cure deadline passes, the DeSoto County Election Commission will hold its public affidavit ballot review on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 3 p.m. at the Election Commission Building, 2510 Highway 51 South in Hernando. Residents may attend, observe, and ask how commissioners decided which ballots were accepted or rejected.
Nov. 11 is also Veterans Day, and most county offices will be closed that day. Voters who still need to cure a ballot should plan to visit Monday or Tuesday.
DeSoto County Election Commissioner Sissie Ferguson has said voters will be able to check whether their ballot counted after the election is certified. The Mississippi Secretary of State’s online affidavit ballot tracker lists a ballot only after local officials have processed it. Counties must certify their results to the state by Nov. 13.
Why the count matters
As of Saturday night, the race between Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democrat Scott Colom remained too close to call, four days after the election, Action News 5 reported. DeSoto County’s affidavit ballots are among thousands statewide still being processed, so local results could shift before certification.
