Delbert Hosemann, Secretary of State, stated Wednesday that 13 percent turnout was unacceptable. His office and others have taken steps to increase turnout for the Nov. 6, general election. There will be four contested U.S. Senate seats, two U.S. House contests, and two Court of Appeals contests. In addition, there will also be 19 contested chancery judges races and 16 contested circuit judges races throughout the state. Hosemann announced that the “Vote In Honor” program, which allowed Mississippians to vote in the honor of military personnel, will be continued. It was established in 2000. Hosemann added an additional dimension to the program by allowing citizens to visit the website of the secretary-of-state at www.sos.ms.gov to fill out details about the soldier to be honored with the vote. Hosemann stated Wednesday at a Jackson office news conference that while we have the right to vote, we also have an obligation. Hosemann said that the obligation was to soldiers who have stood up for the right to vote over the years. You have until October 9th to register to vote. Local circuit clerk offices will be open on weekdays and open Saturday, Oct. 6, to enable people to register. Mississippi Votes is another group that works to register voters and inform Mississippians about upcoming historic elections. Arekia Bennett is the executive director of Mississippi Votes. This non-profit aims to increase voter participation and build it. The unusually high number requests for absentee ballots in the mid-term elections is a sign of this increased interest, she said. She said, “What we’re doing on the ground is a direct result of the increased interest.” Bennett stated that Mississippi Votes is also working to register voters and has so far registered approximately 1,500 people on Mississippi college campuses. She stated that data regarding voter registration on campuses is still being compiled. The U.S. Senate elections are drawing the greatest interest. This is the regular election in which state Rep. David Baria from Bay St. Louis challenges Republican incumbent Roger Wicker, Tupelo. And the special election. Cindy Hyde Smith, who was appointed in the spring to fill the post vacated by Thad Cochran, is challenging Gov. Phil Bryant was appointed by Gov. to fill the position left vacant by Thad Cochran’s early retirement. Now, Chris McDaniel (a Republican state senator from Ellisville), former Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy, a Democrat and Tobey Bartee, a Democrat are challenging him. In the polls, Hyde-Smith and Espy have been leading. Hyde-Smith is the first female senator from Mississippi. If elected, Espy would be the first African American to serve in Congress in modern times. McDaniel, Espy and Bartee committed to a debate at Millsaps College, Jackson on Oct. 4. Hyde-Smith has not yet committed to the debate. As with other ongoing activities, the debate could spark additional interest in the forthcoming election. Espy, a former governor of Massachusetts, campaigned in the state over the weekend. Deval Patrick is being considered as a potential presidential candidate in 2020. President Donald Trump will host a rally for Hyde Smith Tuesday in DeSoto County. Baria holds town hall meetings throughout the state. He has also repeatedly challenged Wicker to debate. Wicker has so far refused any challenge to the debate. Hosemann stated again Wednesday at the news conference that his office works hard to stop attempts to penetrate state voter rolls. He said that effort https://mississippitoday.org/2018/05/31/hackers-target-state-voting-machines-but-with-no-success/is ongoing.