Ballots left in open vault inside unlocked city hall

HATTIESBURG — Election officials still counting votes from Tuesday’s election in Hattiesburg were alarmed Thursday to find that ballots were left overnight in an open vault inside an unlocked City Hall.

The Hattiesburg American reports that officials determined the seal on the ballot box did not appear to be tampered with and unsealed it in front of the Election Commission at 9 a.m.

The affidavit ballots are expected to determine the winner in a close mayoral race between incumbent Mayor Johnny DuPree, a Democrat, and City Council member Dave Ware, an Independent.

Also on Thursday, a new Hattiesburg resident had problems with her affidavit ballot.

Bridgett Cooley and her husband moved to Hattiesburg from Petal before the 2012 presidential election. Cooley said she and her husband voted by affidavit ballot in 2012, which should have moved their registration into Hattiesburg.

On election day Tuesday, Cooley said her name was not on the poll book at her voting precinct. So, she cast her ballot via affidavit.

Cooley’s ballot was one of 115 affidavit ballots being reviewed by the Hattiesburg Election Commission.

After hearing reports via news media that the affidavit ballots were being reviewed, Cooley checked to see if her ballot had been counted.

Sure enough, Cooley’s ballot was among 55 rejected by the commission. She contacted the Forrest County Circuit Clerk’s Office and the Hattiesburg city clerk to ensure they knew she was a registered, qualified elector.

And just before noon, City Clerk Eddie Myers accepted Cooley’s ballot and put it with the 39 accepted affidavit ballots.

Cooley said she only wanted to make sure her vote was counted.

“If I had not called and checked on this, my vote would not have counted,” Cooley said.