Absentee voting in the contentious Republican Senate runoff is under way, and even the well-known must bring ID to vote.
Greenwood Mayor Carolyn McAdams was at the Leflore County Courthouse Tuesday to cast her ballot. When Leflore County Circuit Clerk Elmus Stockstill asked McAdams for her ID, though, the mayor realized she’d left her purse back at City Hall.
Under Mississippi’s voter ID law — put into effect for the first time for the June 3 primary election — all voters, no matter how well known to poll workers, must show valid photo identification before casting a ballot.
“I walked back and got my ID, came right back and voted,” McAdams said.
Stockstill said the mayor has been one of several would-be voters who have left wallets or purses behind when they came to the polls. Although it’s a bit of an inconvenience — the walk to McAdams’ office and back is about a half mile — Stockstill said most voters seem undeterred.
The mayor, a backer of the voter ID law, said the extra few blocks hadn’t changed her stance. She said it was “great” that Stockstill asked for her ID, even though her identity was never in question.
McAdams, who has publicly endorsed Sen. Thad Cochran in the primary against challenger Chris McDaniel, said she was there to vote for Cochran before heading out of town for the Mississippi Municipal League conference in Biloxi next week.
Cochran is seeking a seventh term in the Senate. McDaniel, a state senator and tea party favorite, led Cochran by a thin margin in the June 3 primary but failed to gain a majority.
McAdams announced her endorsement of Cochran June 11.
Stockstill said in-person absentee turnout in his office has been steady but light so far. He said his office will be open for in-person absentee voting today and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.
In-person absentee voting is not allowed Monday, and all mailed ballots must arrive by Monday at 5 p.m., Stockstill said.
• Contact Bryn Stole at 581-7235 or bstole@gwcommonwealth.com.
