election circles outcomes

Over the past month, Mississippi Free Press has hosted in-person Solution Circles in Jackson and Biloxi, as well as two virtual, state-wide circles. Our team listened as citizens shared their voting and elections-specific concerns, as well as ideas for potential solutions.

We thank everyone who came out or called in to a Solution Circle, as well as our generous donors who helped make them happen.

Click here to see how MFP is already covering the 2024 elections.

ISSUE	SOLUTION
Voter Roll Purges	Clear reporting on what is happening and why. Accountability for authorities doing the purging.
Confusion around eligibility of former felons	Resources outlining the specific disenfranchising felonies.
Polling hours	Extend polling hours. Expand availability of absentee voting. Allow early voting
Unhoused voters	Non-digital information about registration (handouts for communities). Registration assistance. Transportation to the polls
Transportation to the polls	Work to publicize resources that already exist (ie “Roll to the Polls”)
Child care on Election Day	Look for orgs that provide child care. Encourage parents to take kids to the polls as that can be a civic education moment.
Registering disabled/elderly voters	Clear reporting on how to register if you can’t make it to the courthouse
Accessibility for disabled or elderly voters	Easy access to resources for absentee voting. Accesssible transportation to polls. Clear direction on how to vote absentee
Obstacles to absentee voting	Ensure information about how to vote absentee is easily accessible and readily available.
Lack of Civics studies in school	Encourage schools to do mock elections. Expand YMP. Get more resources to youth via non-school channels (online tools). Make the school a voting precinct for eligible students and faculty. Encourage parents to take their kids to the polls.
Lack of acces to voting for eligible incarcerated people	Reporting to bring awareness to the issue. Work with orgs already connected to incarcerated individuals.
Issues with election machines
Ballot shortages (Hinds County)	Accountability for elected officials. Follow-up on their solutions for past issues
Unclear information from Sec. of State’s office	Accountability for elected officials. Follow-up on their solutions for past issues
Local government is inaccessible	Accountability for elected officials. More connections with public servants like election commissioners. Pieces training the public on how to contact and build a relationship with their elected officials.
Media bias prevents distribution of accurate information	Bias recognition training. Invite more voices to write opinion pieces.
Disinformation on social media	Real-time fact checking. Elevate good information on social media. Highlight trustworthy sources that exist in those spaces. Parents, encourage kids to follow trusted sources.
Unequitable redistricting	Accountability for elected officials. Publicize the impact. Public must organize/mobilize to keep elected officials accountable.