Video: Starkville City Officials Count Affidavit Ballots

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STARKVILLE, Miss.(WCBI)- Starkville Ward 2 Alderman Sandra Sistrunk waited patiently to hear the results of this year’s affidavit ballots.

“This is important, it will set the course for the next 4 years, the administration for the next 4 years. My Ward, Ward 2 is a very balanced Ward, demographically and politically, so a close election in my Ward is absolutely something that was expected,” said Sistrunk.

One day after primary elections, city officials were back at city hall, tallying up votes, and checking district lines, making sure every vote was counted.

“An affidavit ballot is a ballot that was cast by an individual who claimed they were a registered voter of a Ward, but were not on the poll book so they’re allowed to go ahead and cast a ballot but we have to go through a process where we have certify whether that vote is acceptable,” said City Clerk Taylor Adams.

The tedious process requires election commissioners and city officials to go back and check every vote in every ward, including areas where there was a clean sweep.

“The entire election commission of 5 people and the city clerks office, which has 2 or 3 people, were counting. We were on the internet with the State election folks to verify the database and of course representatives from each party,” said Election Commissioner Kirk Rosenhan.

Regardless of the outcome, Sistrunk wants this to be a reminder to voters to turn out in Primary Elections.

“I am disappointed that we will have a minority of the voters making a decision but you cannot make people go vote. I hope in the future, everybody will remember their vote matters. It’s an important process and I hope that in the future more people will take that opportunity and engage in making decision about our community,” said Sistrunk.

In some Starkville wards, there were no aldermen races. However, since there was a mayoral race, city officials have to be very diligent in making sure every vote is counted.

Ward 4’s winner was decided. Jason Walker beat John Gaskin 194 to 190.