Watson Calls for Higher Voter Turnout During Olive Branch Luncheon
Photo: Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson speaking to the Home Builders Association of North Mississippi luncheon in Olive Branch on Thursday, Sept. 4. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
OLIVE BRANCH, Miss. – Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson urged north Mississippi residents to take elections seriously and boost turnout, stressing the “embarrassingly low” participation seen in the recent special Senate primary elections.
Speaking Thursday at a Home Builders Association of North Mississippi luncheon held at Northcentral Electric Cooperative in Olive Branch, Watson said DeSoto County in particular must do more to make its voice heard at the ballot box.
“DeSoto County should understand that the more your voice is heard, the more attention you’re going to get,” Watson said. “If elected officials look at those numbers and see people aren’t turning out, some may think they don’t have to answer to you. That’s why it’s so important to show up and vote.”
Voter turnout in the Aug. 5, special Senate primary election was a mere 8.22 percent in DeSoto County.
Secretary of State’s Ambassador Program
Watson highlighted the Secretary of State’s Ambassador Program, which selects high school seniors across Mississippi to serve as peer leaders on civic engagement. Ambassadors are taught about the election process, the importance of voting, and then return to their schools to organize registration drives and encourage classmates to get involved.
Watson said that when students like Ambassador Elizabeth Flowers, a Northpoint Christian School senior, lead registration efforts, “the power of influence rubs off” and inspires others to participate. The goal, he said, is to create a generational change in attitudes toward civic responsibility.
Broader Efforts to Drive Voter Engagement
Watson also outlined other outreach initiatives, including voter registration “road trips” that bring his staff to high school and community college football games, local festivals, and community events to connect directly with Mississippians. His office also runs the Promote the Vote program, which uses art, writing, and video contests to teach younger students about elections.
But, Watson cautioned, registration is only the first step. The larger challenge is motivating residents to cast their ballots on election day.
“It is embarrassing, and for me it’s almost a generational fix,” Watson said. “We want to reach the next generation now so they’ll teach their children and their friends. People died for this right—don’t take it for granted.”
Election Integrity and Voter ID
Watson also defended Mississippi’s election integrity measures, pointing to the state’s voter ID law as a model for the nation. He said more than 9,000 free voter IDs have been issued since the law’s implementation, and officials even helped transport some residents to courthouses to ensure they could obtain the identification needed to vote.
The luncheon appearance came during September’s Voter Registration Month campaign, part of Watson’s push to raise civic awareness and increase turnout in a state where participation lags behind the national average.
