Pulitzer Center Update October 28, 2024
Series of Jackson, Biloxi and Virtual Solutions Circles Reveals Election Concerns, Possible Answers
Country:
A look at a patchwork elections system that is prone to errors
Editor's Note: The following update was originally published in the Mississippi Free Press.
Over the past month, the Mississippi Free Press has hosted in-person Solutions Circles in Jackson and Biloxi, as well as two virtual, state-wide circles. Our team listened as citizens shared their voting and elections-specific concerns, as well as ideas for potential solutions.
We thank everyone who came out or called in to the Solutions Circles, as well as our generous donors who helped make them happen.
Click here to see how MFP is covering the 2024 elections.
| ISSUE | SOLUTION |
|---|---|
| Voter Roll Purges | Clear reporting on what is happening and why. Accountability for authorities doing the purging. |
| Confusion around eligibility of former felons | Resources outlining the specific disenfranchising felonies. |
| Polling hours | Extend polling hours. Expand availability of absentee voting. Allow early voting |
| Unhoused voters | Non-digital information about registration (handouts for communities). Registration assistance. Transportation to the polls |
| Transportation to the polls | Work to publicize resources that already exist (ie “Roll to the Polls”) |
| Child care on Election Day | Look for orgs that provide child care. Encourage parents to take kids to the polls as that can be a civic education moment. |
| Registering disabled/elderly voters | Clear reporting on how to register if you can’t make it to the courthouse |
| Accessibility for disabled or elderly voters | Easy access to resources for absentee voting. Accesssible transportation to polls. Clear direction on how to vote absentee |
| Obstacles to absentee voting | Ensure information about how to vote absentee is easily accessible and readily available. |
| Lack of Civics studies in school | Encourage schools to do mock elections. Expand YMP. Get more resources to youth via non-school channels (online tools). Make the school a voting precinct for eligible students and faculty. Encourage parents to take their kids to the polls. |
| Lack of access to voting for eligible incarcerated people | Reporting to bring awareness to the issue. Work with orgs already connected to incarcerated individuals. |
| Issues with election machines | |
| Ballot shortages (Hinds County) | Accountability for elected officials. Follow-up on their solutions for past issues |
| Unclear information from Sec. of State’s office | Accountability for elected officials. Follow-up on their solutions for past issues |
| Local government is inaccessible | Accountability for elected officials. More connections with public servants like election commissioners. Pieces training the public on how to contact and build a relationship with their elected officials. |
| Media bias prevents distribution of accurate information | Bias recognition training. Invite more voices to write opinion pieces. |
| Disinformation on social media | Real-time fact checking. Elevate good information on social media. Highlight trustworthy sources that exist in those spaces. Parents, encourage kids to follow trusted sources. |
| Unequitable redistricting | Accountability for elected officials. Publicize the impact. Public must organize/mobilize to keep elected officials accountable. |
