MS GOP Asks Cops To Probe Potential ‘Vote Buying’ Schemes

The Mississippi Republican Party (MSGOP) is asking state and local law enforcement to investigate what it claims are potential vote-buying schemes ahead of upcoming municipal elections next month.

On Wednesday, MSGOP Chair Mike Hurst sent a letter to Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch and Gulfport District Attorney W. Crosby Parker containing allegations of unlawful attempts to reward Gulfport residents for voting in the city’s June 3 elections. Specifically, Hurst alleged that “certain individuals, groups and campaigns appear to be directly and blatantly” violating state law that prohibits “any person [from offering] money or anything of substantial value to anyone for his vote.”

Individuals convicted for such actions “shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not less than Fifty Dollars ($50.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or imprisoned not more than six (6) months, or both,” according to the Mississippi Code.

Hurst claimed that on Monday evening, he was “made aware of at least two recent instances of what appear to be violations of the above statute.”

One of the alleged incidents flagged in the letter involves the purported distribution of “Souls to Polls Food Vouchers” by “certain individuals” in front of Gulfport City Hall, which Hurst noted is “where absentee voting in municipal elections are occurring.” According to the chairman, “These vouchers contain a picture of a ballot box with the word ‘vote’ on the front, specifically offering a ‘special prepared meal’ at a local Gulfport restaurant and are being handed out in front of Gulfport City Hall specifically after someone casts an absentee vote in the Gulfport municipal elections.”

“You will notice that these vouchers state that such meals are available ‘now through June 3’ —election day. A specific sign at that local Gulfport restaurant confirms the validity of the ‘Souls to the Polls’ vouchers and the specific exchange of things of value for votes,” wrote Hurst, who included photos of the alleged vouchers and restaurant sign in the letter (emphasis original).

The MSGOP chair also cited video footage — which The Federalist obtained — of what appears to be a woman sitting in a car handing out said vouchers to three individuals. Hurst claimed that this occurred “directly in front of Gulfport City Hall during operating hours of the City Clerk’s office, while absentee voting is occurring,” and that, “In one instance, when a woman handing out these vouchers was confronted by someone, she lied, first saying she didn’t know what the person was talking about, then saying she was simply watching voters for the Gulfport Democrat mayoral candidate.”

“Finally, the woman threatened the person asking questions by stating: ‘Don’t you be starting nothing!’” Hurst added.

The second alleged incident flagged by Hurst purportedly happened on Saturday, when “groups, individuals and even the Gulfport Democrat mayoral candidate’s campaign was sharing [a] flyer … entitled ‘Vote & Vibe Day Party,’ encouraging people to ‘meet at city hall 10 am’ where they would ‘vote together’ and then would ‘get your wristband after voting.’” The party chair claimed, “They were then invited to a local restaurant for free brunch by simply ‘show[ing] your wristband.’”

The letter links to social media posts by Democrat mayoral candidate Sonya Williams-Barnes sharing the flyer and touting the event to her Facebook followers. Williams-Barnes will face off against Republican Hugh Keating in the city’s June 3 elections.

“These are horrific examples of individuals, groups and political campaigns actively attempting to steal an election by buying votes. Elections should be won by persuasion, not payoffs,” Hurst wrote. “In Mississippi, our democracy is not for sale. We will not stand idly by when outside groups try to corrupt and steal our elections through vote buying. Such unlawful activity strikes at the very heart of and undermines our republic.”

The MSGOP chairman concluded his letter by requesting Fitch and Parker to “immediately investigate” the alleged incidents and “put a stop to” prospective violations of the law.

Fitch sent a communique to Williams-Barnes on Wednesday, saying her office “has reason to believe that you and the Committee to Elect Sonya Williams Barnes may have committed violations of state campaign finance laws.” The Republican attorney general’s office said it has been probing the allegations “since last week,” according to the Magnolia Tribune

Meanwhile, Parker “said while he could not speak to ongoing investigations, ‘the Public Integrity Division of the Attorney General’s Office has been contacted and is actively investigating this matter,’” the outlet added.

Williams-Barnes did not respond to The Federalist’s immediate request for comment.

MSGOP Letter to AG Fitch on Gulfport Vote-Buying Scheme by The Federalist

Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He previously served as a state content writer for Convention of States Action and his work has been featured in numerous outlets, including RealClearPolitics, RealClearHealth, and Conservative Review. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood