An article in the Hattiesburg American on January 28, 2009 reports of Mississippi House Bill 185, allowing "voters to head to the polls 15 days before Election Day in county, state and federal races." Due to the increased voter turnout this past general election and overwhelming number of absentee ballots, this bill addresses positive election reform. "Early voting works well in neighboring states and helps shorten lines at the polls" and receives great support from the community and elections officials: "The voters love it... clerks love it." Unfortunately, Senate Republicans are pushing to add restrictive voter identification provisions to the bill.
Early voting is a vital reform that greatly increases access to the ballot box and helps to relieve the strain on the system on Election Day. The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law strongly supports early voting efforts, and adamantly opposes restrictive measures, such as photo ID laws, that disenfranchise minority voters.
