Election season isn’t quite over in Mississippi. Voters in some parts of the state are being asked to return to the ballot boxes on Tuesday, Nov. 26, to participate in judicial runoffs.
Here’s what to know about the upcoming judicial runoffs.
What races are heading to a runoff?
In the central part of the state, a five-candidate field for a seat on the Mississippi Supreme Court saw none of the candidates surpass the 50% mark during the general election on Nov. 5. Justice Jim Kitchens secured 35.6% of the votes (112,935) as his challenger, GOP state Sen. Jenifer Branning, led the group with 41.8% (132,420).
Kitchens, 81, has run a campaign based on his track record through two terms on the Supreme Court. Other experience touted by the incumbent includes 40 years of private practice and nine years as a district attorney in Copiah, Lincoln, Pike, and Walthall counties.
“My platform is honesty, integrity, [and] dependability. I intend to continue doing just as I’ve been doing for almost 16 years on the Supreme Court,” Kitchens said before the general election. “I work hard. Nobody has ever said that I’m not doing a good job. Nobody has said that I’m not qualified. My experience, I know, is one of my greatest assets.”
Branning, 45, has used interviews, stump speeches, and commercials to attack Kitchens’ age while touting herself as a “constitutional conservative,” raising questions about the nonpartisan status candidates are supposed to carry. However, she promises to be an impartial justice if elected.
“People are getting on board with the concept of wanting a new generation of constitutional conservative leadership on the court,” Branning opined. “Certainly, we tell people we feel like Mississippians need justices that are fair and impartial and will simply call balls and strikes on the bench. And that’s what I’m running to do.”
In a Court of Appeals race powered by the Gulf Coast, razor-thin margins lifted Amy St. Pe’ and Jennifer Schloegel to a runoff. St. Pe led the three-candidate field, which also included Ian Baker, with 35.2% of votes (84,769) while Schloegel garnered 33.1% (79,612).
St. Pe’ carries three years of judicial experience after being appointed by the Gautier City Council as a municipal judge in 2021, becoming the first woman to hold the position. In addition, she has served as the city attorney for Moss Point for 16 years.
Schloegel has served as a chancery court judge for Harrison, Hancock, and Stone counties since first being elected in 2010. She was a practicing attorney for 19 years beforehand.
Who votes in the runoffs?
For the Mississippi Supreme Court District 1, Position 3 race, voters from the following counties can vote: Bolivar, Claiborne, Copiah, Hinds, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Jefferson, Kemper, Lauderdale, Leake, Madison, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Rankin, Scott, Sharkey, Sunflower, Warren, Washington, and Yazoo.
For the Mississippi Court of Appeals District 5, Position 2 race, voters from the following counties can vote: Forrest, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Lamar, Pearl River, Perry, and Stone along with a portion of Wayne.
District maps for the Court of Appeals and the Mississippi Supreme Court can be found here.
When will the polls be open?
Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Secretary of State Michael Watson, whose office manages elections, reminds eligible voters that anyone in line before 7 p.m. is legally entitled to cast a ballot. Polling locations can be verified here.
What should you bring to the polls?
Eligible voters should bring a photo ID to their polling location. Voters without an acceptable form of photo identification are entitled to cast an affidavit ballot. However, Secretary Watson urges people to be prepared to vote when they get to the polls, so they won’t have to go through the affidavit process. A list of acceptable photo IDs can be found here. Voters who end up casting an affidavit ballot will be required to present an acceptable form of photo ID to their circuit clerk’s office in the days after the election for their ballot to be counted.
What should you not bring to the polls?
While cell phones are allowed inside polling locations, Mississippi law does not allow people to take a photo of any marked ballot. In the day and age of the fad called “ballot selfies,” Watson reminds people that a social media post is not worth legal repercussions. The secretary of state also reminds people that campaigning within 150 feet of any entrance to a polling location, unless a private property, is unlawful. Thus, don’t bring signs for your candidate of choice and set up outside the door.
Can you vote absentee in the runoffs?
With Mississippi’s two runoffs taking place two days before Thanksgiving, many are worried about being out of town and not being able to vote. According to Watson’s office, concerns should be eased with in-person absentee voting beginning Saturday, Nov. 16. Circuit clerk offices will be open to absentee voters until Saturday, Nov. 23. Mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day to be counted.