Two Election Commissioners Will Not Seek Another Term

Two Election Commissioners Will Not Seek Another Term

By David Howell

Editor

WATER VALLEY – Two longtime election commissioners in the county will not seek reelection in November. District 4 Election Commissioner Ora Faye Polk and District 5 Election Commissioner June Byford both told the Herald they do not plan to seek another term. 

Election commissioners are elected from each supervisory district every four years. The deadline to qualify for the non-partisan position is June 4, and the slots will appear on the Nov. 1 General Election ballot. Incumbents Steve Cummings in District 1, Missy Kimzey in District 2 and Carla Peacock in District 3 told the Herald they will qualify to seek another term. 

Election commissioners are charged with the duty of conducting, including all facets of activities associated with general and special elections for the county. Election commis-sioners are responsible for keeping the poll books of the county. They also keep the registration books which contain the names of all voters in the county. They are responsible for revising them periodically and keeping them up to date.

   With redistricting, commissioners assign voters to the appropriate district and precinct and revise poll books to conform to changes in boundaries. Election commissioners are also required by state statute to attend certification training each year, held by the Secretary of State, to be eligible to conduct elections held in the county. Other duties including hiring poll workers for an election and training poll workers on their specific duties on election day.

In the event of a challenged election, election commissioners are required to be among members of a special tribunal formed to hear the challenge. The commissioners sit in the trial as the jury in the case and as advisors to the judge appointed to hear the case.