Mississippi Supreme Court releases decision on 2023 Pearl River County Tax Assessor/Collector Election

WRJW News

The Mississippi Supreme Court has rendered a decision on the two year old case pertaining to  the Republican Primary Runoff Election for the office of tax collector/assessor of Pearl River County held on August 29, 2023. The final numbers for the election showed that Jo Lynn Houston received 2,915 votes to Sandy Kane Smith’s 2,913. 

Through much discovery by legal teams from both candidates, court hearings, and appeals from both parties, the decision from the MS Supreme Court is basically the same as it was two years ago. 

According to the information posted on its website, the decision reads as follows:

“We find that, given the two-vote margin coupled with the existence of two illegal votes, enough illegal votes were identified to bring the will of the electorate into doubt. Therefore, we affirm the trial court’s order of a special election in the Picayune Southside 1 and Picayune 2 precincts. We further order that the results of this special election shall be added to the following vote count from the previous election: Houston 2,691 (2,915 original ertified total less 224 Picayune Southside 1 and Picayune 2 total) and Smith 2,692 (2,912 original certified total less 221 Picayune Southside 1 and Picayune 2 total plus 1 from Carriere 5 Precinct).” 

The date for the special election is to be determined and announced.

To read the entire decision (Click Here)