Republican Senator Cindy Hyde Smith will be visiting Hattiesburg and Meridian on Monday with voters. She is traveling with Gov. Phil Bryant and Gregg Harper, the outgoing Congressman. Republican challenger to state Sen. Chris McDaniel meets voters in Meridian and Flowood as well as Biloxi, Hattiesburg, Biloxi, Biloxi, Pascagoula. Tanner Watson, McDaniel’s communications director, stated that McDaniel is calling, knocking and messaging every Republican to get him elected. Melissa Scallan, Hyde-Smith’s spokeswoman, stated that in addition to Bryant and Harper appearances, the campaign would be knocking on doors reminding people to vote. Scallan said that Election Day forecasts indicate rain in parts of the state. She added, “We want people vote, but we also want to remind them of the weather and to choose a time when it is not bad.” However, the Democratic challengers to both Senate seats are staying in Jackson one day before the election. Mike Espy is running against McDaniel and Hyde-Smith in the special election. He will be greeting voters at Bully’s in Jackson, and then speaking at Anderson United Methodist Church in Jackson on Monday evening. David Baria (Democratic candidate against Sen. Roger Wicker) will meet voters at Bully’s in Jackson, and then spend some time in the Fondren neighbourhood. After candidates spent weeks selling their agendas and focusing on the counties that have the most votes, last-minute ground games strategies were developed. The ten counties that had the highest number of voters in the 2016 general election (the most recent statewide election) shows how candidates can reap the benefits from spending their time in those areas in the last hours before the election. Baria and Espy are spending time in Hinds County. This county has more votes than any other county in the state, and regularly votes Democratic in statewide elections. Hyde-Smith will be spending time in Forrest County as well as Lauderdale County. These Republican strongholds are home to close to 60,000 voters who voted in 2016. McDaniel will be visiting Harrison and Jackson counties where 113,000 2016 voters reside. Hinds: 94.681 DeSoto; 65.695 Harrison. Jackson: 49.802 Jackson. 49.567 Lee. 32.913. Lauderdale: 29.506 Jones. 28,352 Forrest. 28,064 High enthusiasm for Tuesday’s election. The number of absentee ballots requested Monday morning is a good example of this enthusiasm. It was 68,789, compared to the approximately 25,000 required for the 2014 mid-term elections. Mississippi’s midterm elections usually see half the turnout than general elections and presidential elections. According to the Secretary-of-State’s office, approximately 120,000 absentee votes were requested in the 2016 presidential election. According to Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, the high turnout for absentee ballots and other factors led him to predict that Tuesday’s turnout would be a record in Mississippi’s midterm elections. The unusual situation of having both U.S. Senate positions on the ballot is part of the reason the enthusiasm was so high. Wicker was already scheduled to run for a new 6-year term. Special elections were necessary because Sen. Thad Cchran retired earlier in the year due to health reasons. Both Mississippi senators were present on the ballot in 2008 when Trent Lott, a middle-term retiree, retired. Wicker’s first election was in the 2008 special election. This is a presidential election year. According to polls, Wicker is the favorite against Baria. Justin Brasell, Wicker’s spokesperson, stated that the incumbent isn’t taking the election as a given. “We have volunteers calling and knocking on doors to turn out supporters. He said that they were making preparations for an exciting election night event. Baria had a meal with Espy, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba at Bully’s in Jackson. Bully’s: “This is our most important election.” Baria stated. Baria stated that a Democratic win is necessary to stop what he called the “inflammatory rhetoric” of President Donald Trump, and to implement policies that will help Mississippians. Espy stated after the meal that “the spirit was high” and that efforts have been made to motivate people to vote on Tuesday. He said, “That’s all we are doing at the moment.” Danny Blanton, Espy’s spokesperson, said that they feel good ahead of the election. We are meeting people from all over the state and they are all excited and energized. Tonight, we will end the day with an extraordinary faith event at Anderson United Methodist Church at 5:30 p.m. We see a definite path to victory and we’re excited about tomorrow.” People with questions about voting Tuesday, can go to the Secretary of State’s web page at www.yallvote.sos.ms.gov or call 1-800-829-6786. To support this work, you can make a regular donation to the Secretary of State today as part of the Spring Member Drive. This will allow us to continue important work such as this story. Our reporters give a human face to policy’s impact on everyday Mississippians by listening more closely and understanding their communities. To ensure that our work is aligned with the priorities and needs of all Mississippians, we are listening to you. Click the button below to let us know what you think.