Jackson Election Day is here: candidates, wards, polling info and what to expect

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6 days ago

In just days, Jacksonians will return to the polls one last time to elect a new mayor and decide whether to keep or replace members of the Jackson City Council.
June 3 is general election day in the capital city. The primaries and runoffs are in the books — now it's winner takes all. The candidate with the most votes wins their race, no runoffs this time.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and if you're in line by 7 p.m., you'll still be allowed to vote. Voters can find their precinct by visiting the Mississippi Secretary of State's website and entering their address and zip code.
Here's everything you need to know.
The race to become Jackson's mayor started with 20 candidates - plus two who were disqualified - and has been narrowed down to just six: one Democrat, one Republican and four independents.
State Sen. John Horhn, the Democratic nominee, is the heavy favorite to become next mayor as Jackson has not elected a Republican or independent candidate to the position in decades. Horhn defeated incumbent Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba in the Democratic primary and runoff elections held in April. In the runoff, Horhn carried 74.77% of the vote, according to the official results certified by the Mississippi Secretary of State's office.
His Republican challenger is Kenneth Gee, a Bailey Magnet High School graduate currently attending Rasmussen University, who has worked as a law enforcement officer. To say Gee faces an uphill battle in the race isn't an exaggeration. In the April 22 GOP runoff, he secured the nomination by winning 100 of the 159 total votes cast, outlasting candidate Wilfred Beal.
The four independent candidates are Rodney DePriest, Zach Servis, Lillie Stewart-Robinson, and Kim Wade. Because they're not affiliated with a political party, the independents skipped the primaries and advanced straight to the general election.
Five of the seven seats on the council will be up for grabs come Election Day. Two seats — Wards 4 and 6 — have already been decided. That leaves Wards 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 still up for grabs.
Ward 4 Councilman Brian Grizzell retained his seat after the April 1 primary, defeating challenger Malcolm May. Grizzell is running unopposed in the general election, therefore winning the seat. It will be his second term on the council.
Similarly, Lashia Brown-Thomas became the next Ward 6 councilwoman after defeating Democratic candidate Emon Thompson in the April 22 runoff. She is also running unopposed in the general election.
Brown-Thomas replaces incumbent Ward 6 Councilman Aaron Banks, who is not running for reelection this year.
More information on the candidates vying for seats on the council can be found on the Clarion Ledger website.
In early January, Jackson Municipal Clerk Angela Harris confirmed to the Clarion Ledger that letters had been sent to residents whose wards may have changed due to last year's redistricting.
To assist residents who are still unsure of their ward, use the Central Mississippi Planning and Development District's — the group that helped the council with the redistricting process — online tool. Residents can enter their address to check their ward. The tool is available on CMPDD's website.
Gray Ouzts, a principal planner with CMPDD, previously told the Clarion Ledger the online tool is open to the public, but residents should confirm they are voting in the correct ward with the city. Residents can also check with the city to verify their polling precinct. To do so, visit Jackson City Hall or call the Municipal Clerk's Office at [phone].
Contact Charlie Drape at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Everything to know before voting in Jackson for Election Day on June 3