A concerned citizen said that “voter suppression and disenfranchisement” were happening right here in Yazoo City.
With a raised voice, Cynthia Walker appeared before the Board of Mayor and Aldermen Monday afternoon to share her frustrations with the city clerk’s office. She said she was concerned about absentee ballots not being mailed out within Yazoo City from the city clerk’s office.
Prior to appearing before the city council, Walker told The Yazoo Herald that she spoke with City Clerk John Carroll on Jan. 7 and was told that “there were no absentee ballots available.”
“At 10 a.m., I was told that the citizens may come in to vote,” she said. “However, the city clerk’s office could not mail out any absentees because they did not have the proper envelopes. They hope to receive them next week.”
Walker said she suggested that Carroll request Yazoo County Circuit Clerk Robert Coleman for assistance or reach out to other counties for their surplus supplies.
Walker then appeared before the city council this week, but no response was provided by city leaders since her presentation was made during the public comment portion of the meeting.
“I never imagined in my life that I would be standing in Yazoo City at a board meeting concerned about voter suppression and disenfranchisement,” Walker said. “This is a radical departure on election laws. This is a gross misconduct of depriving our citizens.”
Walker said an extension date should be set for the primary elections due to the absentee ballots not being mailed out to ensure that college students, working voters, shut-ins and others have an opportunity to vote absentee.
“Don’t use COVID as an excuse for people not voting,” Walker said. “This is a horrible injustice to the sick, the shut-ins, the college students and people who work. This is disgraceful.”
The city clerk’s office sent a notice to The Herald Tuesday morning that absentee ballots are available to public in their office for the Democratic Primary election to be held on Feb. 1. An earlier notice also said that the city clerk’s office will be open for absentee ballot voting until 5 p.m. each day and from 8 a.m. until noon on Jan. 15, Jan. 22 and Jan. 29.
