Eric Thomas is challenging the Ward 2 Democratic primary results.
Thomas, who was defeated by incumbent Councilman Joseph Mickens, told The Dispatch he’s concerned about the absentee votes counted in the race, and he plans to file a complaint with the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office.
According to unofficial results the city presented on election night, Mickens received 355 total votes, or 54 percent, giving him outright victory without need for a runoff. Thomas received 195 and Troy Miller garnered 96.
Tuesday’s final totals include absentee ballots but do not include affidavits, which election workers counted throughout Wednesday.
However, without absentee ballots, Thomas led Mickens by a 180-177 margin, or 40.5 percent to 39.8 percent, and the two seemed headed for a May 16 runoff. Of the 202 absentees counted in Ward 2, 178 (88.1) percent went to Mickens, more than doubling his vote total and giving him the victory. Only 15 absentees went for Thomas (7.4 percent) and nine for Miller (4.4 percent).
Since there’s no Republican running for Ward 2 in the June 6 general election, Mickens will earn his third term once Tuesday’s vote is certified.
Thomas said he’s concerned about the severe skew toward Mickens in absentee ballots.
“I ran a good race, a clean race and an honest race,” he said. “I was hoping this election would be decided by the people. I think it was decided by a few people manipulating the system. I’m going to contact the Secretary of State’s Office to see what can be done. I want the people to know this.
“He received more absentee ballots than walk-in,” Thomas added. “There’s something about that that just doesn’t seem right.”
Thomas told The Dispatch he’s not trying to “play the victim” in the Ward 2 race, but he strongly believes the system was “manipulated” and wants to inspect the ballots.
“People have gone in and are taking advantage of elderly people and people who are disabled,” he said. “Something has to be done. The citizens should know.
“Who went in and did it?” he added. “Who signed off on the absentee ballots? I want to know about it because something just wasn’t done right.”
Mickens, when contacted, declined to comment on the absentees.
“I have no comment on that,” he said. “No comment. Talk to Mr. Thomas since he’s the one that brought that to you.”
Absentee ballot laws
By state law, voters can cast absentee ballots in person or by mail before election day in certain circumstances. According to Mississippi Code section 23-15-715, voters can cast absentee ballots by mail if they are temporarily residing outside the city; temporarily or permanently physically disabled; or 65 years of age or older. Also, parents, spouses, or dependents of temporarily or permanently physically disabled persons who are hospitalized outside of their cities of residence or more than 50 miles away from their residences and will be with the voter on election day can cast ballots on his or her behalf.
Mississippi Code section 23-15-631(e) says absentee ballot applications and envelops must be acknowledged by an official, such as a notary public or court clerk. However, the statute also says absentee applications and envelops of temporarily or permanently disabled voters: “need not be acknowledge by an official authorized to administer oaths, but must only be witnessed and signed by a person 18 years of age or older. This person does not have to be a registered voter.”
Other races
Nearly 1,000 absentee ballots were cast in Tuesday’s primary, and those ballots skewed heavily in other races besides Ward 2.
In Ward 4, incumbent Councilman Marty Turner received 111 absentee votes, compared to 17 for Pierre Beard, 23 for Fredrick Jackson and 31 for Lavonne Latham-Harris. Jackson and Turner, who were set for a runoff before absentee ballots were counted, will face off in a May 16 runoff. However, the absentee total took Turner from a distant second in the vote count to narrowly placing first.
In the mayoral race, incumbent Robert Smith received 943 absentee votes, compared to 16 for Carl Lee and 105 for Selvain McQueen. Smith, who was already far enough ahead of his challengers in the walk-in vote to avoid a runoff, will advance to face Independent Montrell Coburn in the general election.
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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