Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann is calling out the mayor of Jackson for the morning road blocks during election day.



Jackson Police set up checkpoints throughout the City of Jackson, in a state which is already struggling with voter turnout.

Hosemann was visibly upset and he made it known Tuesday, according to WJTV 12’s Gerald Harris.

“We’re against stopping people on the way to the polls… it’s hard enough as it is,” Hosemann said.

“Everybody has to work so they go from 7 [a.m.] to 8 [a.m.] to cast a ballot. Well, if they’re out here getting some ticket or being stopped and they don’t even get a ticket, they don’t have the time to go vote. So, I ask him why he did that. Certainly, there are 364 other days we could have done that; not today.”

Hosemann says uniformed officers aren’t even allowed in the polling precincts for fear of intimidation.

The City of Jackson tweeted a statement from Police Chief James Davis, saying “due to election day, we have suspended all administrative checkpoints that may prohibit voters from going to the polls.”

The Jackson mayor’s office says they had no part in the decision making of the planned road blocks.

Once informed of the blocks, office personnel say they contacted Chief Davis about the matter.

