Wilkinson voting sorry at best

Published 12:32 am Thursday, August 28, 2008

Enough is enough.

A report issued Tuesday by Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann’s office casts serious doubts about the validity of the June 24 special Democratic Party primary election in Wilkinson County and the July 22 special general election.

The details of alleged wrongdoings in the elections are downright scary.

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Almost a year of accusations, lawsuits, countersuits and investigations of voter fraud and mishandling of ballots delayed both elections, which were originally slated for 2007.

Yet, despite having more than a dozen state and federal poll watchers on hand during the June primary, Democratic Party poll workers violated state law — repeatedly. We can only imagine the horrible crimes these people may have committed if no one was looking.

From helping voters who obviously didn’t need or ask for help to mishandling ballots and even accepting what appeared to be free lunches during the election, the observations mentioned in the report appear to be criminal.

Suspicious actions of the poll workers were so widespread that the validity of both the June primary and the July general election were questioned by the Secretary of State’s office.

The next step is obvious. Attorney General Jim Hood’s office must swiftly step in and prosecute those who have so flagrantly violated the law.

Regardless of whether or not the accused are members of the same political party as Hood, the attorney general has a moral obligation to see that justice is served in Wilkinson County.

Ultimately, confidence must be restored to the voting process, even if doing so requires criminal prosecution. Only then will justice be served.