GOP Leaders Renew Push to Block Lawsuit Over Election Spat
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi House Republican leaders will appeal a court ruling in a dispute over an election that tied, went to a drawing of straws and was later flipped.
The disputed election gave House Republicans a three-fifths supermajority by changing a seat from Democrat Bo Eaton to the GOP's Mark Tullos.
The lawsuit was filed by five voters whose ballots were discarded. U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves ruled Jan. 27 that the voters could move forward with a lawsuit claiming their constitutional rights were violated when the House tossed out their ballots.
Reeves said the federal court lacks jurisdiction to decide the outcome of the 2015 Eaton-Tullos race. But, Reeves said the five voters who filed suit could pursue their own constitutional claim.
Read more: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2017/feb/18/gop-leaders-renew-push-block-lawsuit-over-election/