Unopposed election commissioners to serve another term

Arguably the least-sought-after elective office in Union County is that of election commissioner. Often even the race for county coroner draws more candidates despite the importance of what the commissioners do.

This year is no different.

When the qualifying period for election commissioner ended this past Monday, only the five incumbent commissions had filed their petitions. As long as each one receives at least one vote Nov. 3 they will be re-elected.

The current election commissioners are Wes Creighton, District 1; Bill Azlin, District 2; Barbara Reed, District 3; Mike Beam, District 4; and Wayne Wilhite, District 5.

Basically, the election commissioners keep the voter registration rolls up to date and, with the county registrar (who is also the circuit clerk) hold the elections.

The circuit clerk registers new voters and updates registration information but it is up to the commissioners to remove the names of all voters who have requested to be purged from the voter roll, died, received an adjudication of non compos mentis, been convicted of a disenfranchising crime or otherwise become disqualified.

They do this on the Tuesday after the second Monday each January, the first Tuesday immediately before the primary for congress, the first Monday before the first primary to elect state and county officials, and the second Monday in September before a general election or special election.

The commissioners also help with county school board and municipal elections, for which the county is paid.

At election time, they help prepare voting machines, train poll workers, prepare the ballots and associated material and, when ballots come back in they verify the security and validity of the process, eventually certifying the results.

Little known is that, while engaged in their duties, the commissioners “shall be conservators of the peace in the county, with all the duties and powers of such.”

Upon winning a seat, election commissioners must successfully complete training with the secretary of state’s office before they can officially perform their duties.

The commissioners do not receive a monthly salary. Each is paid on a per diem basis.

They are allowed to be paid for up to 12 days of training normally, although up to eight more may be added.

Their per diem fee is $100 and they are allowed up to 75 days a year, although 25 may be added if two or more elections occur in the same year. They get up to 10 extra days for a special election and receive $150 for the day they actually hold an election, which requires their time from about 6 a.m. to at least 9 p.m. and often later.

They also receive compensation for mileage at the state rate, but on election day only.

Of course election commissioners are far from the only offices that will be on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.

Union Countians will vote on a president, U. S. senator, U. S. representative, Supreme Court justice, the five election commissioners and one county school board trustee.

The presidential preference primary and other party primaries were Tuesday, March 10. A runoff was not needed, leaving Donald Trump as the presumptive Republican nominee and Joe Biden as the presumptive Democratic nominee.

The only school board seat to be voted on is that held by incumbent Wayne Mahon. He represents Union County School District 5, which does not have the same boundaries as Union County Supervisors District 5.

County school board candidates have only a one-month window in which to qualify, from Monday, Aug. 5 to Friday, Sept. 4.

Candidates for this office will have to not only be qualified electors in their districts but also file statements of intent with petitions signed by at least 50 registered voters in their districts.

A candidate for this office also must have a high school diploma or equivalent and not be a resident in a municipal separate district in the county. Anyone elected will have to complete a basic training and education course as well.

In addition to the above, two congressional races will be on the ballot.

Cindy Hyde-Smith, who filled the unexpired term of Thad Cochran, is the Republican incumbent and will least face Democratic challenger Mike Espy.

Our other senator, Roger Wicker, was elected to a new six-year term in 2018.

Incumbent Republican U. S. Representative Trent Kelly will also be on the ballot.

Union County Circuit Clerk Phyllis Stanford has reminded voters that the polling locations for some districts have changed.

The most recent is precinct 501, which has been voting at Northeast Mississippi Community College.

Now, those voters will go to Watson Grove Baptist Church at 521 E. Bankhead Street. The precinct will be renamed Watson Grove as well. This is the county’s largest precinct and the move should make more parking space available as well as space in the voting area.

Other changes have been made, mostly to move voting away from county schools. The move is partly due to school security reasons, but also because of crowding.

Voters who used to go to Myrtle School will now go to Temple Baptist Church at 1026 North St. in Myrtle.

Ingomar voters will now go to Ingomar Baptist Church at 1112 CR 90.

West Union voters will now go to Conlee Construction at 1533 Hwy. 30 West.

East Union will now go to Ellistown Baptist Church at 1006 CR 185.

Signs will be posted at the former locations for those who forget or are not aware of the changes.