Pizza delivery while voting? Here is what’s allowed at the polls in Mississippi
If you think you will be standing in a polling line, listening to your stomach growling during Tuesday’s election, we have good news for you.
Not only are you allowed to pack a lunch, but you may even get away with having a pizza delivered.
Elizabeth Jonson, a spokesperson for Secretary of State Michael Watson, said the only snag in a Grub Hub delivery or visit from Domino’s would be the state’s 30-feet rule.
“Only election officials, people actively voting, and credentialed poll observers may be within 30 feet of the polling place,” Jonson said. “Outside of the 30 feet prohibition, there is nothing that would prevent someone from receiving food.”
Can an intoxicated person vote?
Yes, but it may be in handcuffs.
Keeping the peace at polling places falls upon the shoulders of the bailiff on duty.
“If anyone becomes unruly or abusive, the bailiff should ask him or her to leave,” Jonson said. “If they will not leave, then bailiffs should call local law enforcement.”
While a bailiff will not detain someone acting unruly or abusive, if the person is still on the premises when law enforcement arrives, they will be arrested.
Mississippi state law says anyone arrested, jailed or kept in custody for their behavior at the polls still has the right to vote. “Such persons may be permitted, if they are a qualified voter, to vote while in custody,” according to training documents from the secretary of state’s office.
Can I skip the lines and vote curbside?
While a drive-thru election line might be a fun alternative, only a handful of registered voters are given the privilege.
“Curbside voting is available to physically disabled voters who are unable to enter the polling place on election day,” Jonson said. “If the poll managers, in exercising their sound discretion, determine a physically disabled voter has arrived then curbside voting may be conducted.”
For curbside voting, two or more poll managers take the pollbook, receipt book and a ballot or voting device to the vehicle. To ensure the secrecy of the ballot, the driver and any other passengers who are not too disabled to move, must exit the vehicle until the casting of the ballot is completed.
In some instances, curbside voting could cause a longer wait for voters at the polls.
If there are less than three poll managers at the polls, all voting at the polls stop until the managers conducting curbside voting can return.
Details on election laws and voting polls are available at sos.ms.gov.
Watson has several ways for voters to contact his office with voting issues. Use the hotline 800-829-6786, give the elections call center a ring at 601-576-2550, fax in your concerns at 601-576-2545 or email elections answers@sos.ms.gov.
This story was originally published November 7, 2022 at 2:00 PM.
