With the September 17 qualifying deadline for the District 31 special election rapidly approaching, only four candidates have qualified to fill the seat vacated by Rep. Sara Richardson Thomas.
According to the Mississippi Secretary of State’s website, Otis L. Anthony, Carolyn Steele Johnson, B.C. Hammond and Jeanette Knighten-Washington all reportedly of Sunflower County, have officially qualified for the seat.
Circuit Clerk Carolyn Hamilton has said previously anyone desirous of entering the race must qualify as an independent by presenting a list of at least 50 qualified electors from District 31.
In addition, the candidates will also have to pay a $250 fee to the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office along with the certified list.
District 31 encompasses portions of Sunflower and Washington counties, so the clerk from each county will have to qualify the names from their respective area.
Hamilton requested that the signatures from different counties should be placed on separate sheets, as she will not be able to certify residents from any other county but Sunflower.
Hamilton also urges all candidates to submit their lists for verification in a timely manner. Although her office typically can certify within 24 hours, Hamilton said if they are done at the last minute her clerks will not have time to validate the lists.
