On November 7, 2023, the ballot shortage in Hinds County underscored the urgent need for robust election reform.
The Hinds County Election Commission’s acknowledgement of “human error” and errors in ballot order forms as culprits in the fiasco exposed systemic vulnerabilities that could compromise the integrity of future elections.
As the 2024 election approaches, Mississippi lawmakers must take proactive steps to prevent such incidents from happening again and strengthen the state’s election processes.
Mississippi’s history of voter suppression is well documented, and past events have rekindled concerns about the state’s commitment to ensuring free and fair elections.
The 2023 ballot shortages, which affected at least nine constituencies, resulted from administrative oversights and inadequate training of election commissioners.
These failures disenfranchised voters and sparked national outrage and legal action to keep polling places open longer on Election Day. The incident is a stark reminder of the need to do more to protect the right to vote for all Mississippians.
The state’s electoral system needs immediate attention and reform. A key starting point is comprehensive training for election commissioners.
The annual training currently provided by the Mississippi Association of Election Commissions is inadequate. As Commissioner RaToya Gilmer McGee pointed out, the lack of consistent training and updated policies means that outgoing commissioners lose institutional knowledge.
Training must be more frequent, more detailed and standardized across the state’s 82 counties to ensure that all commissioners are well equipped to fulfill their responsibilities.
In addition, the process of ordering and distributing ballots needs to be reviewed. The use of outdated systems and the reliance on manual corrections in times of crisis reveal significant operational gaps.
Implementing a robust, automated ballot ordering and distribution system with real-time monitoring and error-checking capabilities can help prevent the errors that led to the 2023 shortages.
This system should be coupled with a contingency plan for rapid printing and distribution of ballots to meet any unforeseen demand on election day.
Transparency and accountability are also paramount. The lack of communication between the Hinds County Election Commission and the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office during the ballot shortage crisis is unacceptable.
Secretary of State Michael Watson’s delayed response and minimal engagement with local election officials have made matters worse. To foster trust and ensure that election issues are resolved quickly, clear and established lines of communication and accountability between state and county election officials must be established.
Regular audits and public reporting on election preparations and results should be mandatory to maintain transparency and build public trust.
In addition to these administrative reforms, it is essential to address the broader systemic problems that have long plagued Mississippi’s electoral landscape.
Voter suppression tactics, such as strict voter ID laws, voter roll purges, and limited access to early and mail-in voting, continue to disenfranchise marginalized communities. Lawmakers must work to dismantle these barriers and create an inclusive voting environment.
These include expanding early voting opportunities, ensuring the presence of numerous polling stations in all communities, and implementing same-day voter registration to facilitate broader participation in the democratic process.
As the 2024 election approaches, the call to action for Mississippi is clear. Legislators, election officials, and community leaders must come together to implement these necessary reforms.
The integrity of our elections and our citizens’ trust in the democratic process depend on it. Failure to act will not only perpetuate the cycle of disenfranchisement and distrust. It will also undermine the very foundations of our democracy.
Mississippi can set an example for the nation by prioritizing election integrity and voter rights. By addressing the issues that led to the 2023 ballot shortage and taking proactive steps to ensure fair and accessible elections, we can restore trust in our electoral system and uphold the democratic values that are the foundation of our society.
It is time to act, and we have a responsibility to ensure that every Mississippian’s voice is heard and every vote counted. We must remember that Medgar Evers gave his life for our right to vote, and we must honor his legacy by preserving this fundamental right.
— Duvalier Malone is the author of “Those Who Care: A Handbook for Making a Difference,” a motivational speaker, community activist, and CEO of Duvalier Malone Enterprises, a global consulting firm. He lives in Washington, D.C.
