Circuit Clerk Vickie Hariel demonstrates how to use the camera and computer equipment to issue voter IDs to eligible residents.
Photo by Alexandra Hedrick

POPLARVILLE — The Pearl River County Circuit Clerk’s office is ready to start issuing voter ID cards, but will have more training on the new law and system next week in Jackson.

Vickie Hariel, circuit clerk, said while the office has been trained on the equipment and qualifications, there are more specific and specialized situations that Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann will address at next week’s training.

Hariel said the circuit clerk’s office has not received any phone calls or residents looking for information about the cards since the law was passed and believes it is because there aren’t many people in the county that will qualify for the ID card.

She also said that the card would be valid only for voting situations.

“I hope it doesn’t discourage people (from voting) because our average is so low as it is,” Hariel said.

She said she does believe it will help prevent voter fraud and that she has witnessed people commit voter fraud in the past.

Hariel said poll workers would be trained in June for the mid-term elections, which is the next scheduled state election.

A camera and equipment were installed in December by the state at the courthouse so the circuit court could issue free Mississippi voter identification cards for residents without a photo ID.