Absentees counted today

Published 12:04 am Friday, August 5, 2011

NATCHEZ — The remaining 700 absentee ballots should be counted by this afternoon, election commission member Katye Dukes said Thursday.

Dukes said the Democrat party workers checked and approved 10 boxes by the end of the day Thursday, and should be able to finish up today if all goes according to plan.

Absentee ballots have potential to affect the results of the District 94 House seat race and the circuit clerk race, although the chance absentee votes swaying those outcomes is unlikely.

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Circuit Clerk Incumbent Eddie Walker could win the election outright if 545 absentee ballots cast were for him.

It is more likely Walker will end up in a runoff with Jennifer “Lady J” Minor.

District 94 Incumbent Rep. Robert L. Johnson III has celebrated his with 53 percent of Tuesday night’s votes cast for him. It is possible, but not likely, that Natchez Alderman James “Rickey” Gray could beat Johnson if a large majority of absentee ballots were cast for him.

Adams County Republican Party Chairwoman Sue Stedman said Thursday the Democrat ballots have been checked and approved. Stedman estimated less than 100 absentee Republican ballots were cast.

The results will not be tallied up and loaded to the computer system until both parties are complete, however, Stedman said.

Stedman said the Republican absentees do not stand to make a difference in any of the election results.