JACKSON, Miss.–An anti-ballot harvesting bill that passed the Mississippi House Thursday was called voter suppression by Washington County Rep. Willie Bailey.
“It’s an effort to suppress the Democratic vote and that’s wrong, I’m telling you wrong,” said Bailey, following the explanation of the bill.
The bill would make it illegal for people other than family and caregivers to collect a person’s absentee ballot. A law that essentially does the same thing was passed last year, but is currently being fought in court over the lack of definitions for people who can collect ballots. This year’s bill is an attempt to correct that, which Bailey also opposes.
“They think that it’s gonna help to win this case. It’s noy gonna help it,” he said.
This week Gov. Tate Reeves announced special elections in LeFlore County, essentially do-overs from last year’s primary. reeves said a special judge had found evidence of several types of election fraud, which included ballot harvesting.
Both Bailey and his colleague Rep. John Hines, also from Washington County, questioned the bill. Bailey went as far as suggesting foreign influence.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Russia ain’t behind this,” he said. “A lot of people who have been opposed to Russia are now in the bed with the Russians, okay?”
