Mississippi Republican Party Hinds County Poll Hours Extension Challenge 

Petition filed on behalf of the Mississippi Republican Party (MS GOP) seeking to void an order issued by the Hinds County Chancery Court that extended polling hours countywide from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. The Nov. 7, 2023 order stemmed from a lawsuit filed by the Mississippi Democratic Party (MDP) requesting a countywide polling hours extension due to ballot shortages across numerous precincts. The MS GOP’s petition notes that the order in the MDP case conflicted with an order issued by the Hinds County Circuit Court in a separate case brought by Mississippi Votes on Election Day: In the Mississippi Votes case, the Circuit Court allowed four polling places to remain open until 9 p.m. if voters were in line at 7 p.m. 

According to the state GOP’s petition, the Chancery Court’s order in the MDP case extending voting hours countywide until 8 p.m. on Election Day “must be dissolved because the Court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to enter it and it was entered in contravention to Mississippi’s election laws.” The MS GOP alleges that while Mississippi Votes lawsuit was “properly handled” under a certain provision of state law pertaining to Election Day disputes, the MDP’s lawsuit was not. In turn, the MS GOP contends that the Chancery Court presiding over the MDP’s lawsuit lacked jurisdiction to issue its order. Despite the fact that the election already passed and results are finalized, the MS GOP asks the Mississippi Supreme Court to declare that the Chancery Court lacked jurisdiction to extend polling hours on election night.

On Feb. 22, 2024, the state Supreme Court denied the petition.

Last updated: March 19, 2024 10:28 am EST