VIDEO: Election Controversy Surrounding Caledonia Mayoral Race

CALEDONIA, Miss.(WCBI)—Caledonia residents will go back to the polls to elect a mayor and board of alderman.

That’s the decision handed down today after accusations of election law violations and the resignation of an election commissioner.

“We want to make sure everybody’s vote is safe guarded and that there is integrity at the ballot box,”said  Attorney Corky Smith.

That’s the argument Mitch Wiggins and his legal team made Thursday, just before a fourth examination of the ballots.

In a complaint and demand for a new election filed by attorney Corky Smith, he claims election commissioner Ken Byars took home the town’s only ballot box the night of the election and allowed one candidate to view the ballots without the other candidate present.

” We’ve received several reports and we’ve also got some comments that have been made by several individuals including members of the election commission, that there may have been some election law violations that may invalidated any of the results,”said Smith.

After being presented the evidence, the election commission met and decided another day at the polls is in order.

“What the election commission did is set aside the election. And yes they do not have the authority to separate the mayor’s race or the aldermen. They could throw out the box so it’s a new election,” said Election commission attorney Chris Hemphill.

Byars resigned after the meeting. Now, candidates are waiting to hear when the next election will be held.

“They arrived at their unanimous decision and I had confidence that they would especially after looking at the facts, the law and especially after the supreme court has already decided this on a number of occasions,”said Smith.

The current mayor and board of aldermen will continue to serve in those positions until the new election is certified.

Attorneys say the next go around will have the same fundamental process.

“Same candidates same ballot, no new qualification period. There will be a new voter roll that will have to be generated. I’m assuming people will have time to qualify to vote.”

WCBI reached out to current mayor Bill Lawrence for comment.

He wouldn’t go on camera but did say, “The election has been taken from me and that’s all I am worried about” .