THREAD—SecState Michael Watson held an event that excluded print reporters to discuss Mississippi's Nov. 3 elections, where masks will not be required.
Watson said poll workers will wear masks but claims it would be unconstitutional to require voters to wear masks. 1/
Watson said poll workers will wear masks but claims it would be unconstitutional to require voters to wear masks. 1/
Watson doubled down, saying that "too many men and women have died for this right" to vote to require voters to wear masks. 2/
Watson said one MS Coast county received 3000 absentee requests in the first three days of absentee voting compared to 6000 total absentee votes cast in the county in 2016.
This is new information because Mississippi does not publicy disclose election data. 3/
This is new information because Mississippi does not publicy disclose election data. 3/
Watson said Mississippi has 1.9 million registered voters* and said our voter rolls need to be purged.
Asked whether purging would occur after the election, Watson said that he has the authority to compel local officials to purge voters** and "started several weeks ago." 4/
Asked whether purging would occur after the election, Watson said that he has the authority to compel local officials to purge voters** and "started several weeks ago." 4/
*Watson's remark that Mississippi has 1.9 million registered voters is also new information because, again, Mississippi does not publicly disclose election data, including registration data. 5/
**Watson's remark that he has the authority to compel local officials to purge voters conflicts with his prior remarks on social media, talk radio, and other outlets that he does NOT have authority over local election officials w/r/t purging. 6/
https://twitter.com/MichaelWatsonMS/status/1277818073060433920
REMINDER: Many MS precincts closed after Shelby Cty. v. Holder, resulting in crowded polls mainly affecting black voters.
The thread below is the full debate whether to (a) open all 2012 precincts on Nov. 3 or (b) keep the polls crowded mid-pandemic 👇 7/
The thread below is the full debate whether to (a) open all 2012 precincts on Nov. 3 or (b) keep the polls crowded mid-pandemic 👇 7/
https://twitter.com/jallen1985/status/1275560033053544450
REMINDER: The MS House passed bills twice in the past four years for no-excuse early, in-person voting, but Tate Reeves killed them in the MS Senate.
This year, Tate became governor AND THERE'S A PANDEMIC, yet the MS House refused to pass early voting. 9/
This year, Tate became governor AND THERE'S A PANDEMIC, yet the MS House refused to pass early voting. 9/
https://twitter.com/jallen1985/status/1312026154900094977
Current polling on the level of concern about an outbreak indicates among registered Mississippi voters indicates that making the polls dangerous will mainly suppress black and Democratic voters. civiqs.com/results/corona… 10/ 
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