♪ >> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M WILSON STRIBLING.

WELCOME TO A SPECIAL EDITION OF "@ISSUE," YOUR VOICE YOUR VOTE.

THERE ARE PENDING CHANGES TO THE WAY PEOPLE VOTE.

HUNDREDS OF VOTING BILLS ARE BEFORE CONGRESS, SOME OF WHICH ADVOCATES ARE CALLING A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY.

IN NEARBY GEORGIA, REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS HAVE ALREADY ADOPTED NEW RESTRICTIONS ON VOTING.

UNLIKE MANY OTHER STATE LEGISLATURES, MISSISSIPPI DID NOT PASS LEGISLATION RESTRICTING ACCESS DURING THE 2021 SESSION.

THEY DID NOT PASS BILLS EXPANDING ACCESS TO THE BALLOT BOX.

WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT VOTING IN MISSISSIPPI, MODERN DAY CHALLENGES FACING THE STATE AND HOW THESE ISSUES IMPACT YOU.

IN THE 2020 GENERAL ELECTION, A TOTAL OF 1.3 MILLION VOTES WERE CAST.

OF THOSE BALLOTS, 231,000 WERE SUBMITTED BY ABSENTEE.

THAT IS ONE OUT OF SIX VOTES AND IT IS A NEW RECORD IN THE STATE.

THROUGHOUT THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, STATES ARE CONTINUING TO EXAMINE ELECTION PROCEDURES AND SEARCH FOR WAYS TO MAKE IT SAFER AND EASIER TO VOTE.

IN MISSISSIPPI VOTING BY BALLOT REMAINS LIMITED.

MISSISSIPPI HAS IN PERSON AND MAIL-IN ABSENTEE VOTING OPTIONSES.

TO QUALIFY, A VOTER MUST DEMONSTRATE A NEED.

IT HAS TO BE BASED ON AGE, DISABILITY, WORK DEMANDS OR BEING OUT OF TOWN ON ELECTION DAY FOR ANY REASON.

THAT MAY INCLUDE TEMPORARY RELOCATION OR SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES.

MISSISSIPPI IS ONE OF SEVEN STATES WHERE PEOPLE CANNOT VOTE BY MAIL WITHOUT AN EXCUSE.

>>> ON THE FINAL DAY OF THE 2021 SESSION, A SMALL GROUP OF VOTING RIGHTS ADVOCATES RALLIED OUTSIDE THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, AFTER FILING A BALLOT INITIATIVE TO ESTABLISH EARLY VOTING.

WHILE IT IS NOT AN INITIAL BALLOT INITIATIVE, SUPPORTERS SAY IT HAS RECEIVED AN OFFICIAL REVIEW, GUIDANCE AND CERTIFICATION FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

KELLY JACOBS WITH THE MISSISSIPPI EARLY VOTING INITIATIVE SAID SHE WORKED WITH HERBTER TO DRAFT THE LANGUAGE.

>> IN DESOTO, ON NOVEMBER 3, OUR CIRCUIT CLERK HAD 14,000 ABSENTEE BALLOTS CAST.

14,000 ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

IT WAS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF WORK FOR THEM TO NOTARIZE MOST OF THEM, STICK THEM IN THE ENVELOPE AND CATEGORIZE THEM BY WHICH VOTING PRECINCT THEY GO TO.

IT TOOK THE POLL WORKERS MORE THAN 24 HOURS TO COUNT THEM.

THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO COUNT THEM UNTIL STARTING AFTER 7:00 P.M. ON ELECTION DAY.

THESE POLL WORKERS WENT TO WORK AT 7:00 IN THE MORNING.

THEY WERE ASKED TO STAY AWAKE ALL THAT TIME, ALL DAY TO OPEN THE ENVELOPES AND AFTER 7:00 P.M. TO START COUNTING THEM.

IT WAS A HUGE BURDEN.

MEANWHILE, OUT ON ELECTION DAY, THERE WERE LINES, VERY, VERY LONG LINES OF PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO VOTE BECAUSE THEY DON'T TRUST THE ABSENTEE VOTING SYSTEM OR THEY DON'T QUALIFY.

EARLY VOTING LETS ANYBODY ANY AGE WHO IS A REGISTERED VOTER TO VOTE ON ONE OF 11 DAYS, RIGHT?

THE 10 EARLY VOTING DAYS.

EVERYBODY DOESN'T HAVE TUESDAY OFF TO GO VOTE.

>> REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP HAS EXPRESSED RELUCTANCE OR REFUSAL TO ADOPT EARLY VOTING IN MISSISSIPPI.

SOME MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SAY THEY RECOGNIZE GROWING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR MORE VOTING OPTIONS.

REPRESENTATIVE KENT MCCARTY COAUTHORED A BIPARTISAN BILL THAT WOULD HAVE EXPANDED IN PERSON ABSENTEE VOTING.

IT DIED IN COMMITTEE DURING THIS PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> IF YOU LOOK IN THE LEGISLATURE, THIS LEGISLATION, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HAS PASSED THE HOUSE TWICE.

IT WAS BEFORE I GOT THERE.

IT PASSED OVERWHELMING, 16 AND 17, IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN PARTISAN LIKE THIS.

PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED AND THE SECURITY OF ELECTIONS, WE ARE TOO.

THAT IS A HUGE PROBLEM.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO MAKE SURE -- WE KEEP ELECTIONS SECURE WHILE ALLOWING MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO VOTE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE COMMON SENSE, PRACTICAL, OKAY, VOTING WITH AN I.D.

ON ELECTION DAY IS SECURE, I THINK THAT'S WHAT -- WE NEED TO GET BACK TO THAT.

>>> THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY, THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND BARRIERS TO VOTING HAVE BEEN CONTENTIOUS ISSUES.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS LITTLE POWER OVER ELECTIONS.

THE POWER TO MANAGE AND ADMINISTER ELECTIONS BELONGS TO THE STATES, WHERE ADVOCATES SAY SOME BARRIERS CAN STILL BE FOUND.

TO EXAMINE MODERN DAY CHALLENGES FACING COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ONE VOICE, A NON-PROFIT, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ORGANIZATION.

>> SO MANY PEOPLE IN MISSISSIPPI DIED JUST FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT TO CAST A BALLOT.

WE WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE JIM CROW PERIOD WHERE INDIVIDUALS HAD TO PAY A POLL TAX OR TAKE RIDICULOUS LITERACY EXAMS TO GAIN THAT RIGHT TO VOTE.

SO WHEN WE FINALLY GOT THE RIGHT TO VOTE THROUGH THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO START SEEING SOME OF THOSE VICTORIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE STARTED SEEING MORE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO LOOK LIKE US AND WHO WERE ABLE TO REPRESENT SOME OF THE NEEDS, INTERESTS OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

BUT WE HAD A STATE CONSTITUTION IN THE LATE 1800'S THAT KNEW THAT IF FORMER SLAVES COULD VOTE, IT COULD CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY.

IN OUR CONSTITUTION, IT WAS LISTED THAT INDIVIDUALS CONVICTED OF CERTAIN CRIMES AND THESE CRIMES WERE IDENTIFIED AS CRIMES THAT FORMER SLAVES WOULD PROBABLY COMMIT, THAT THESE FOLKS SHOULD BE EXCLUDED.

THAT LAW STILL EXISTS TODAY.

WE ARE STILL FIGHTING THAT LAW TODAY AS WELL AS A VERY ANTIQUATED VOTING SYSTEM.

THE ABSENTEE VOTING PROCESS REQUIRES THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU GET AN POLITICS NOTARIZED WHICH PROVIDES A HUGE BURDEN ON INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY ELDERLY FOLKS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS.

OTHER PROVISIONS LIKE NOT BEING ABLE TO VOTE ONLINE, NOT HAVING AN EARLY VOTING SYSTEM IN MISSISSIPPI.

THERE IS SO MUCH WE HAVE TO CATCH UP WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD ON.

>>> ELECTION SECURITY IS OFTEN CITED IN ARGUMENTS AGAINST EARLY VOTING YET 2020 WAS THE MOST SECURE ACCORDING TO ELECTION OFFICIALS.

THERE IS A LINE BETWEEN SAFE GUARDS AND BARRIERS IN THE ELECTION PROCESS BUT IT CAN BE HARD TO DEFINE.

>> PART OF IT IS BASED ON THIS MISCONCEPTION, UNTRUTH THAT MAIL-IN VOTING IS SOMEHOW OPEN TO FRAUD.

YET, THERE IS NO DOCUMENTATION THAT IS THE CASE.

TRYING TO FIND THE WAY WE CAN PROTECT VOTERS, WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY WHAT ARE REAL PROBLEMS AND WHAT ARE NOT REAL PROBLEMS?

THE FRAUD ISSUE IS NOT A REAL PROBLEM.

IN VERY CLOSE ELECTIONS, ONE OR TWO VOTES CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, THAT'S THE KIND OF FRAUD THAT THEY FOUND IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

NOT ANYTHING THAT WOULD DETERMINE A GENERAL ELECTION FOR STATE OR PUBLIC OFFICE.

TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM THOSE OR TRYING TO IDENTIFY WHAT IS REALLY A PROBLEM AND WHAT IS CREATED TO BE A FALSE PROBLEM THAT WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME CHASING OUR TAIL ON, I THINK, IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO FIND THAT BALANCE.

I THINK WE HAVE GOOD SYSTEMS IN PLACE.

WE DON'T NEED MORE RESTRICTIONS.

WE DON'T NEED MORE LAWS THAT WOULD THROW PEOPLE OFF THE VOTER ROLLS.

THAT IS AN ISSUE IN MISSISSIPPI.

IT IS A FALSEHOOD THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DEFEND TO TRY TO PROTECT THE VOTER BASE THE WAY IT IS.

IT IS JUST NOT RIGHT.

WE SHOULD ALL WANT TO HAVE THE GREATEST POSSIBLE ACCESS FOR THE MOST PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THE POLLS.

THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRACY IS REALLY ABOUT.

NOT SHUTTING IT DOWN, NOT CLOSING IT OFF, OPENING IT UP TO EVERYONE.

>> FOR THOSE LEAVING PRISON, THE WEIGHT OF A FELONY CONVICTION CAN IMPEDE THE ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

OTHER OBSTACLES CAN HINDER EX-INMATES WHEN IT COMES TO VOTING.

POLLING PRESIDENT OF THE REACH FOUNDATION, AIMED AT HELPING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY INCARCERATION.

SHE SAID THE REQUIREMENTS ARE OFTEN BARRIERS FOR THOSE TRYING TO REENTER THOSE COMMUNITIES.

>> IT CAN BE HOUSING.

SOME OF THEM DON'T HAVE -- YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN ADDRESS, SOME OF THE BARRIERS WOULD BE IDENTIFICATION, WHERE THEY MAY NOT HAVE THEIR LICENSE OR A PROPER I.D.

IN ORDER, SOME OF THOSE GET OUT OF PRISONS IN MISSISSIPPI ARE NOT ALL FROM MISSISSIPPI BECAUSE THEIR CASE WHILE IN MISSISSIPPI, UNLESS THEY HAVE ALL OF THEIR DOCUMENTS TO MAKE THEM BE A CITIZEN IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THAT'S A BARRIER EVEN IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE ONCE THEY ARE ABLE TO GET OUT.

>> MISSISSIPPI LAWMAKERS WILL BE WORKING TO REDRAW A NUMBER OF MAPS THAT WILL IMPACT VOTERS.

2020 WAS A CENSUS YEAR, WHICH MEANS THE U.S. CONGRESS WILL REAPPORTION ITS REPRESENTATION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

ON THE STATE LEVEL, CENSUS DATA WILL BE USED TO DRAW THE HOUSE AND SENATE DISTRICTS FOR THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS IN 2023.

THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR EXPLAINS THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS WITH KAREN BROWN.

>> WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GET THE INFORMATION ON OUR CENSUS LAST YEAR.

WE ARE REQUIRED TO REDISTRICT OUR -- THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI FOR ITS CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AND CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS THAT WILL BE NEXT MARCH, RUN-OFFS WILL BE IN NOVEMBER, THE FOLLOWING NOVEMBER.

WE HAVE A TIME DEADLINE.

THEY POSTPONED BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, THEY POSTPONED US TO RECEIVING THE INFORMATION IN SEPTEMBER 30 OF THIS YEAR.

SO WE WILL BE ON A SHORT TIME FRAME TO REDISTRICT THE FOUR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS IN MISSISSIPPI.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING TO HAPPEN.

SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE'LL REDISTRICT THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE.

ALL OF THOSE DISTRICTS WILL BE DONE BY PROBABLY EARLY NEXT YEAR.

WE DO THAT SO PEOPLE WILL KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO RUN FOR A PARTICULAR OFFICE, THEY'LL KNOW THE DISTRICT IN WHICH THEY LIVE.

>> WHEN THE CENSUS NUMBERS COME IN, CAN THEY BE INTERPRETED, THE NUMBERS THEMSELVES, NOT NECESSARILY WHERE THEY COME FROM, BUT THE NUMBERS THEM THEMSELVES.

>> THERE ARE -- WE DO PAY ATTENTION IN ADDITION TO THE NUMBERS TO THE MAJORITY, MINORITY MAKE-UP.

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL SUPREME COURT CASES ON THAT.

WE DO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT ASPECT, GIVEN TO US BY THE CENSUS.

NO ECONOMIC DECISIONS, ANYTHING LIKE THAT, CLEARLY THOSE ARE JUST LEFT UP TO THE COMMUNITY TO COME UP WITH.

ONE THING THEY DO PAY ATTENTION TO IS THE MAJORITY, MINORITY IN EACH DIRECTION.

>> I KNOW THERE IS ELECTORAL COMPETITIVENESS OR GERRYMANDERING THAT RUNS ALONG POLITICAL LINES.

WITH MISSISSIPPI BEING OVERWHELMINGLY REPUBLICAN, IT IS SAFE TO ASSUME THAT LINES WILL BE REDRAWN TO BENEFIT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

>> NO.

>> DO YOU WANT TO ADD ON TO THAT?

>> I DON'T THINK I NEED TO ADD ON TO IT.

WE IN THE SENATE, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE MAKE-UP OF THIS COMMITTEE IS BIPARTISAN.

WE INTEND TO ANTICIPATE LOOKING AT DISTRICTS WHICH ARE GEOGRAPHICAL IN LOCATION TO MAKE COMMON SENSE FOR CITIES AND COUNTIES WHERE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF SPLIT PRECINCTS.

I WAS A FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE HERE.

SPLIT PRECINCTS DRIVE EVERYBODY CRAZY.

WE DON'T WANT SPLIT PRECINCTS.

THERE WILL BE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

WE ARE REDISTRICTING ON THE NEEDS, THE PARTS, THE CITIES AND COUNTIES AND TRYING TO MAINTAIN THEIR INTEGRITY.

WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY REPRESENTATION.

I THINK OUR MAJOR CONCERNS WILL BE THE VOTER.

>> THE REDRAWING OF DISTRICT MAPS COMES WITH INHERENT BIASES AND COMPLICATIONS SAYS ED BLACKMAN.

HE IS SERVING HIS 29TH YEAR IN THE LEGISLATURE, WORKING ON REDISTRICTING EFFORTS.

REPRESENTATIVE BLACKMAN SAYS A KEY PRIORITY FOR MANY LAWMAKERS IS KEEPING THE DISTRICT THAT ELECTED THEM.

HE TALKS MORE ABOUT THE POLITICS OF REDISTRICTING WITH "@ISSUE" PRODUCER ASHLEY NORWOOD.

>> YOU MENTIONED ISSUES PROBLEMS THAT MAY ARISE IN THE PROCESS OF REDISTRICTING.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT?

>> POLITICIANS, ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE INVOLVED IN THE PRO PROCESS.

JUST LIKE IN THE INSECT POPULATION, THE BACTERIA POPULATION, THE HUMAN POPULATION, SURVIVAL IS WHAT IT IS ABOUT.

IN THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS, THE BEST DISTRICT YOU HAVE IS THE ONE YOU JUST GOT ELECTED FROM.

MOST POLITICIANS WHEN IT COMES TO REDISTRICTING ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN TO YOUR CHANCES -- INCREASING YOUR CHANCES OF BEING RE- RE-ELECTED.

IT DEFINITELY BECOMES AN ISSUE.

VERY FEW POLITICIANS WANT TO GIVE UP THE CORE OF THEIR DISTRICT, EVEN THOUGH THE POPULATION MAY HAVE INCREASED OR BEEN REDUCE D. YOU HAVE TERMS LIKE GERRYMANDERING.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS.

LIKE ONE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE SAID ABOUT PORNOGRAPHY, YOU KNOW IT WHEN YOU SEE IT.

THAT GOES ON A LOT.

IN MISSISSIPPI WE HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

IT IS AT THE STATE LEVEL.

THE MINORITY DISTRICTS ARE PACKED.

THE WHITE DISTRICTS ARE PACKED WITH LIKE MINDED, LIKE RACED PEOPLE IN THEM.

YOU HAVE AT THE STATE LEVEL, YOU HAVE ABOUT 50, 51 AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE BUT WE ARE ALL PACKED IN THE DISTRICT ABOUT 70 PLUS, MOST ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN MAJORITY DISTRICTS.

THAT IS FINE WHEN IT COMES TO EEQUALIZING POPULATIONS.

I SKEWED WHAT WE DO FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT.

FORTUNATELY, IF YOU ARE BLACK, YOU TEND TO BE A DEMOCRAT.

IF YOU ARE WHITE, AT LEAST FROM AN ELECTORAL STANDPOINT, REPUBLICANS TEND TO BE WHITE.

WE HAVE THAT ISSUE COMING UP IN THE NEXT REDISTRICTING PROCESS.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM IN MISSISSIPPI FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN.

>> LET'S GET TO THE POINT.

BREN SDWREENS IS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE, GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF "@ISSUE."

LET ME START WITH A GENERAL QUESTION, I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS WOULD ASSUME MOST REPUBLICANS, STARTING WITH DONALD TRUMP AND HIS ALLEGATIONS ABOUT THE 2020 ELECTION ARE IN FAVOR OF ELECTION REFORM AND MOST DEMOCRATS ARE AGAINST IT.

IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT?

>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

I THINK BOTH SIDES WANT ELECTION REFORM IN THEIR OWN WAYS.

WHEN I LOOK AT ELECTION REFORM IN MISSISSIPPI AND I HAVE BEEN DOING POLITICS SINCE I WAS A LITTLE BOY.

HERE'S WHAT I WOULD DO IF I WAS A DECISION MAKER, THESE ARE THINGS I THINK NEED TO BE DONE TO IMPROVE VOTING.

WE ALL VOTED IN 2020.

WE ALL STOOD IN LONG LINES.

THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE, THERE WAS A LOT OF EXCITEMENT ABOUT WHETHER YOU WANTED TO VOTE FOR DONALD TRUMP OR JOE BIDEN OR SOMEBODY ELSE.

YOU WONDER HOW YOU FIX THIS, YOU HIRE MORE PEOPLE, YOU HIRE MORE POLL WORKERS, YOU PAY THEM MORE THAN THE 75, 80, 90 THEY GET PAID TO BE THERE ALL DAY.

LET'S FIND BUILDINGS THAT WORK.

LET'S GET OUR POLLING PLACES OUT OF FIRE STATIONS, PUT THEM IN LARGE FACILITIES, SO WE HAVE MORE ROOM.

I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO STAND IN LINE FOR AN HOUR AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IF IT WAS A FACILITY THAT WAS BIGGER, IF THEY HAD MORE PEOPLE, IF WE IMPROVED THE MECHANICS OF HOW WE RUN ELECTIONS IN MISSISSIPPI, THE ELECTION DAY PROCESS WOULD BE MUCH SMOOTHER.

>> MOST DEMOCRATS IN FAVOR OF WIDESPREAD ELECTION REFORM?

>> YEAH, IN MISSISSIPPI, WE HAVE THE MOST RESTRICTIVE VOTING LAWS IN THE COUNTRY.

IT IS HARDER TO CAST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT HERE THAN IT IS ANYWHERE ELSE.

YOU HAVE TO GET THE APPLICATION, NOTARIZED, THEN YOU HAVE TO GET THE BALLOT NOTARIZED.

IMAGINE BEING A COLLEGE STUDENT OUT OF HOME, 19 YEARS OLD, TRYING TO FIND TWO NOTARIES IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.

WE ARE UNUSUAL IN THIS RESPECT.

AUSTIN SAID HE HAD THINGS DEMOCRATS WOULD AGREE WITH HIM, PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO VOTING IS NECESSARY, BETTER TRAINING IS NECESSARY, HAVING GOOD ACCESS NL PLACES TO VOTE IS A GOOD IDEA.

TO HAVE IT COMMUNITY BASED BECAUSE YOU WANT EVERYBODY TO HAVE EQUAL ACCESS.

YES, WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO IN MISSISSIPPI.

AUSTIN, I'M GLAD WE DIDN'T MAKE IT HARDER TO VOTE.

>> I WROTE THIS DOWN AND I FORGOT TO SAY IT.

I AGREE THERE ARE ASPECTS OF ABSENTEE VOTING THAT WE MUST IMPROVE.

THERE ARE WAYS TO IMPROVE AND FIXING VOTING WITHOUT DOING EARLY VOTING.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS BUT I'M OPPOSED TO THAT, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT WHEN YOU PROMPT US.

>> WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT NOW.

YOU TALKED ABOUT LONG LINES AND SOCIAL DISTANCING BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE AT THE POLLS.

WOULD NOT EARLY VOTING ELIMINATE THAT?

>> IF YOU LOOK AT STATS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE ANSWER IS NO.

I WROTE THIS QUOTE DOWN FROM MRS. WHEELER, I NEVER MET HER PERSONALLY.

SHE SAID WE SHOULD ALL WANT THE GREATEST ACCESS FOR ALL PEOPLE TO VOTE AND EARLY VOTING WILL ENSURE THIS.

I DO AGREE, I WANT AS MANY PEOPLE TO VOTE AS THEY CAN BUT EARLY VOTING DOES NOT EQUATE TO MORE PEOPLE.

LISTEN TO BILL GARDENER WHO TESTIFIED ABOUT HR-1 WHICH IS BEING DISCUSSED IN CONGRESS RIGHT NOW.

HE IS THE DEMOCRAT, THE LONGEST SERVING SECRETARY OF STATE IN UNITED STATES HISTORY.

WHAT HE HAS SAID, NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS NO EARLY VOTING.

THEY REQUIRE VOTER I.D.

THEY ALLOW FOR SAME DAY VOTER REGISTRATION, THEY HAVE SOME ABSENTEE BALLOT, THEY ARE IN THE TOP FIVE OF TURNOUT EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

IF YOU LOOK AT CALIFORNIA, THIS IS THE MODEL FOR NANCY PELOSI, CALIFORNIA, FOUR OF THE LAST FIVE ELECTIONS, THERE WERE 46, 49, 43.

MISSISSIPPI HAD GREATER TURNOUT THAN CALIFORNIA IN 2016 AND 2012.

ONE MORE STATE, OREGON BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING AT FACTS, IN 1996, OREGON CHANGED TO ALL MAIL-IN VOTING.

BILL GARDENER, SECRETARY OF STATE SAID, HEY, COME WITH US; LET'S DO THIS.

I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT THE GUY FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE SAID.

OREGON HAS NEVER HAD A HIGHER VOTER TURNOUT THAN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

NEW HAMPSHIRE, IF YOU ARE ASKING DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS HAVE THESE CRAZY RESTRICTIVE VOTING ACCESS BUT THEY ARE TOP FIVE EVERY TIME.

I DO NOT THINK -- THINGS CHANGE IN ELECTIONS.

WE HAVE ALL DONE CAMPAIGNS.

EARLY VOTING IS A VOTER INCUMBENT PROTECTION TOOL.

IT IS SO HARD WHEN YOU ARE DOING A CAMPAIGN.

I AM AGAINST THIS.

WE HAVE ALL SEEN THINGS HAPPEN, I'M TALKING TOO MUCH.

I'LL BE QUIET.

>> IF YOU COULD GET REPUBLICANS IN MISSISSIPPI TO GIVE US NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTING LAWS, WE'LL TAKE THEM.

THEY HAVE NO EXCUSED ABSENTEE VOTING, THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.

IF YOU CAN VOTE ABSENTEE WITHOUT HAVING TO IMPROVE YOU ARE DISABLED OR YOU'LL BE OUT OF STATE DURING THE ELECTION, THAT IS A GAME CHANGER.

THAT STATES -- YOU CAN MENTION ANY STATE IN THE WORLD AND I THINK YOU JUST DID AND IT WOULD BE BETTER VOTING LAWS THAN WHAT WE HAVE IN MISSISSIPPI.

CHRISTY WHEELER IS RIGHT.

YOU WANT TO MAKE THIS PROCESS AS ACCESSIBLE AND AVAILABLE AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE.

EARLY VOTING IS ABSOLUTELY A WAY TO DO THAT.

IN 2010, THERE WAS A SELECT COMMITTEE OF HOUSE MEMBERS AND SENATE MEMBERS WHO WENT ACROSS THE STATE WITH SECRETARY HOSEMAN WHO WAS OUR SECRETARY OF STATE AND WHO LISTENED TO VOTERS IN EVERY PART OF THE STATE.

THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THOSE HEARINGS WHERE SOMEONE DID NOT SAY HOW MUCH EASIER IT WOULD BE IF OUR ELECTION DAY WAS A HOLIDAY DAY OR A SATURDAY OR A DAY WHEN I DON'T HAVE TO BE AT WORK.

THE SMART BARBER, HAILEY BARBER SAID EARLY VOTING MADE SENSE.

IT WAS HOSEMAN WHO STOOD IN THE THE WAY WHEN IT PASSED AT THE LEGISLATURE.

AUSTIN, WHAT I HOPE YOU HEAR ME SAY AND WHAT THESE ADVOCACY GROUPS SAY, IT IS NOT ONE THING IN PARTICULAR.

JUST DON'T MAKE IT RESTRICTIVE.

LET'S MAKE IT EASIER FOR MISSIPPIANS, LET'S MAKE SURE WE ARE HAVING OUR POLLS OPEN FOR A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME.

LET'S MAKE SURE PEOPLE WHO DO POLLING ARE EDUCATED AND KNOW HOW TO ADMINISTER IT.

LET'S MAKE IT AS EASY AS WE CAN.

>> WE HAVE SAID THINGS WE CAN DO ON THE SAME PAGE.

WE HAVE BOTH DONE CAMPAIGNS BEFORE.

THINGS CHANGE THE LAST WEEK OR IN SOME STATES, THE LAST SIX WE WEEKS.

THINGS CHANGE, MAN.

THAT WORRIES ME.

>> IT WORRIES YOU SOMEBODY WHO SEALED IN THEIR BALLOT LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT THE OTHER CANDIDATES AND IT IS TOO LATE -- >> IT IS ALL THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY.

>> THAT IS A CAMPAIGN CONCERN.

I WOULD SAY THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO PARTICIPATION OUTWEIGHS THAT KIND OF VERY NARROW CAMPAIGN CONCERN.

I DON'T DISAGREE.

LOOK, WE HAVE THAT RIGHT IN STATES THAT HAVE EARLY VOTING.

YOU CAN ALWAYS WAIT AND BE AN ELECTION DAY VOTER.

>> LET'S MAKE THAT CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT EASIER ON ELECTION DAY, NOT BEFORE.

>> MAKE IT EASIER ANY TIME.

YOU GET YOUR BOYS TO COME ALONG AND WE ARE THERE.

>> THANK YOU.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

DON'T FORGET, YOU CAN WATCH THIS PROGRAM ONLINE OR LISTEN TO THE PODCAST.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON "@ISSUE."

GOOD NIGHT.