Mississippi runoff turnout currently “exceptionally” low

Published 1:14 pm Tuesday, June 26, 2018

JACKSON (AP) — Mississippi Secretary of Delbert Hosemann says turnout is “exceptionally” low in primary runoffs Tuesday.

Voters have until 7 p.m. to cast ballots for the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate and the Republican nominee for a U.S. House seat in 24 counties across central Mississippi.

Hosemann says spot checks by staff members in 24 counties indicate few voters in either contest.

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The secretary of state says voting has proceeded smoothly, except for a period early this morning where the congressional runoff between Michael Guest of Brandon and Whit Hughes of Madison wasn’t on electronic ballots in Simpson County. Hosemann says those voters were offered paper ballots instead.

Democrats statewide are choosing between state House minority leader David Baria of Bay St. Louis and venture capitalist Howard Sherman of Meridian. The winner will challenge U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker and two other candidates in November.