A special election will be held for the Ward 1 commissioner seat in Clarksdale that was determined by two votes following reports of ballots being cast illegally.
Gov. Tate Reeves announced Thursday that Timothy W. “Bo” Plunk and Ray Sykes will once again face off for the post on Tuesday, Nov. 18. The special election was announced after the Circuit Court of Coahoma County discovered a “sufficient number of illegal ballots” were cast to change the outcome of the April 22 Democratic primary runoff between the two candidates.
Sykes defeated Plunk, a 16-year incumbent, by two votes in the primary runoff. The winner of the election was slated to occupy the position, as there were no Republican or independent candidates. Nonetheless, Plunk successfully contested the results after contending that poll workers allowed more than 20 people who did not live in Ward 1 to vote in the race. The final tally for the runoff was 413-411 in Sykes’ favor, meaning the alleged additional votes could have determined the election.
“Election integrity matters,” Reeves stated. “Voters deserve to have their voices heard, and illegally cast ballots circumvent the will of the people. I’m glad the Circuit Court of Coahoma County ruled that a special election was necessary. There’s no place for cheating in our elections.”
