Hosemann scrutinizing number of absentee ballots

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — After the 2011 August primary, the Secretary of State’s Office says it noted an unusually high number of absentee ballots cast in the election.

“Absentee balloting seems to be increasing in Mississippi,” says Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann. “Examining the number of absentee ballots cast in the state, and the reasons in which those votes were cast allows the Legislature to monitor the election system in Mississippi.

“What we are seeing is Mississippi already has a form of early voting by way of absentee balloting. The majority of voters who cast an absentee ballot claimed they were going to be out of the county on election day, were temporarily or permanently disabled or over the age 65.”

According to numbers from the Secretary of State’s Office, it has received in excessive of 100 percent of the ballots sent from nine counties led by Issaquena County (800 percent), Coahoma County (230.19 percent) and Amite County (183.67 percent).