COUNTY COURTHOUSES-The state and county Democratic executive committees are working to remind all elections officials and voters around the state that Mississippi voters will NOT need to present identification in order to cast a ballot in the November 6 General Election.

In a statewide announcement today, state Democratic Chairman Rickey Cole said “As Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann announced last week, ‘a voter I.D. will not be required to vote on November 6, 2012.’ Our party committees are training poll watchers who will be credentialed observers at voting precincts around the state on election day. Any attempt at vote suppression, including any effort to require identification (except for first-time voters who registered by mail) will be immediately challenged and reported to state and federal officials. In Mississippi, we insist that every election official, candidate and poll watcher honor and respect every voter’s right to cast his or her ballot, and that every duly cast ballot be fairly and accurately counted. Fair, open and honest elections should never be a partisan issue. Voting is a constitutionally guaranteed right that we are all bound as citizens to respect, protect and defend, regardless of party.”