MS Secretary of State visits Winston County for discussion to prevent illegal election activity

Michael Watson visited his 30th county of his 82 county tour to provide education into preventing voter fraud.

The mississippi secretary of state is traveling throughout mississippi to provide input into preventing election fraud.

Wtva's rhea thornton was in winston county where michael watson talked to election officials this morning about the importance of fair elections.

I'm outside of the winston county courthouse where secretary of state michael watson came out to speak with the circuit clerk and election commissioners to prevent any fraudulent activity before elections.

Michael watson - mississippi secretary of state: "it's important that we talk to mississippians about our election fraud because every vote matters."

Mississippi secretary of state michael watson was in winston county today on his tour of all 82-counties state to discuss the importance of election integrity with local leaders.

Michael watson - mississippi secretary of state: "building those relationships is incredibly important in politics.

Approaching things as a team is so important, so that's what we're doing here... one of the reasons we came here to visit today."

He said his goal for this tour is to teach others about fraudulent activity.

Michael watson - mississippi secretary of state: "anytime fraud comes into play, it could be one vote that changed the outcome of the election.

That could change the trajectory of a city, of a town, of a county."

Watson also wants to bring awareness to the growing issue of voter rolls.

He said of the 82 counties in the state, 41 of them have over 90% or more of their running age population showing up on registered voter roll lists... and 7 with 100% or more.

Michael watson - mississippi secretary of state: "you look at that and you've got to scratch your head, wait a minute, that doesn't make sense.'

Of course it doesn't.

That's because we don't have enough election commissioners who are engaged to doing their job to make sure the voting rolls are clean."

By educating the public, he believes we can lower the chances of illegal activity in elections.

Michael watson - mississippi secretary of state: "when you see something that you say, look, i don't think that quite makes sense.

Something doesn't smell right about that,' contact your circuit clerks.

Contact your district attorneys and contact our office."

Tag: watson said winston county is the 30th stop he has made on his tour.

He said his next stop will be in lowndes county.

Reporting in louisville, rhea thornton, wtva 9 news.

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