Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann showed up to Trent Lott Academy in Pascagoula to inspire the youth to Promote the Vote.

Over 200 schools are participating in the Promote the Vote program. Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann wows students at Trent Lott Academy as he teaches them a variety of things. Fifth grader Jamicah Miller said, “I learned there’s a bunch of different branches, the legislative branch, the judicial branch, and the executive branch.”

Hosemann said, “Most elections are decided by people 50 years and older. Of course, they’re deciding what’s currently available, but the future is these chairs in here.”

After the students asked questions about how voting makes a difference in our everyday lives, it was time to go to the polls. “They are all excited to vote and I’m excited to see them. It’s just a very positive thing and it makes my day,” said Hosemann.

Students learned the voting process is pretty easy. All they have to do is get their IDs checked, place their vote, and then you get a cool sticker for voting. “Now that they see how easy it is, I’m so hopeful they’ll vote for constable or president, whatever it is,” said Hosemann.

The fifth graders know every vote counts and look forward to making their voices heard when they turn 18. Fifth grader Haydn Fisher said, “You can have a say in who is going to be in charge of the country and who is going to represent you. You want to have a say in that because it is important.”

Original post: WXXV25

Most of us realize that voting in a free and public election is a right afforded to only a few in the world. But it is something most Americans have taken for granted when they go to the polls on election day.

If they go at all.

Casting a ballot in elections continues to decline in the United States with voter apathy now the norm, overtaking the number of those who do decide to exercise their right of voting.

“During the Primary Election, little more than 13 percent of Mississippians turned out to cast a ballot,” Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said. 

It wasn’t always the case in our country decades and generations ago.

It’s a shame that people have to be encouraged to vote rather than looking forward to election day.

“Back in the day” people came out in droves to hear politicians campaign. That’s not the case any longer, but you can still hear from candidates running for public office if you take advantage of the opportunity Thursday evening when a forum is held at the Warren County Courthouse.

The Vicksburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Blacks in Government and the Vicksburg Branch of the NAACP will be in the Circuit Courtroom on the second floor of the courthouse at 6 p.m. U.S. Rep. Benny Thompson (D-Mississippi) has committed to the forum, along with several local candidates seeking public office.

It’s your chance to hear what the candidates have to say face-to-face and ask them questions.

Unfortunatley, the reality is that most registered voters won’t attend. But I say to those who really believe their vote doesn’t count, to take this into consideration: Men and women have died in combat so that you can cast that ballot.

That’s why it does my heart good to see a program like “Vote in Honor of Soldier,” which is an opportunity created by the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office that allows voters to dedicate their vote to a servicemember or veteran.

Voters interested in dedicating their vote can visit the Secretary of State’s website (sos.ms.gov), provide their information, and post a tribute to a soldier or veteran in their lives.  In turn, the Secretary of State’s Office will send the voter a letter, Voter Information Guide, and Vote in Honor of a Soldier sticker to wear on Election Day.

“We have a second opportunity on Nov. 6 to remember the 3,200 Mississippi National Guardsmen and women who are fighting overseas for us to have the opportunity to vote,” Hosemann said. “We hope all Mississippians will take the time to honor their sacrifices and cast a ballot.”

So if you think your vote doesn’t count, at least cast a vote for the one’s who do count — our men and women in uniform.

Original post: The Vicksburg Post

Camp Buehring, Kuwait (WTVA) –

Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann visited Mississippi National Guard Soldiers of the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team October 7-11, in Kuwait.

Secretary Hosemann and Maj. Gen. Janson D. Boyles, adjutant general of Mississippi, spoke to roughly 3,500 Mississippi Soldiers during their visit. Hosemann instructed Soldiers on the process of registering to vote and absentee voting while they are deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield.

“Historically, for some reason, soldiers have not voted, and we want them to vote,” said Hosemann.

The 155th ABCT conducted a transfer of authority July 15 at Camp Buehring and took over the mission as a part of Task Force Spartan. Through Operation Spartan Shield, Task Force Spartan maintains a U.S. military posture in Southwest Asia sufficient to strengthen our defense relationships and build partner capacity. Units supporting OSS provide capabilities such as aviation, logistics, force protection and information management, and facilitate theater security cooperation activities such as key leader engagements, joint exercises, conferences, symposia and humanitarian assistance/disaster response planning.

Original Source:  WTVA

Jackson, Miss. (Clarion Ledger) –

Mississippi is set to receive almost half a million dollars from a $26 million multi-state securiaties settlement involving a national wealth management group that had been selling unregistered, nonexempt securities since October 2006.

A consent order on the civil penalties from LPL Financial LLC made the settlement that was reached in May final this week. The settlement involves securities regulators in 52 states and U.S. territories. Mississippi, along with 49 other states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands will receive $499,000 each.

Under the settlement, LPL will offer to repurchase from investors securities held in LPL accounts determined to have been unregistered, non-exempt equity, or fixed-income securities sold since Oct. 1, 2006. Each offer also must include 3 percent simple interest per year.

In July 2017, the North American Securities Administrators Association, of which Mississippi is a member, established a task force with Massachusetts and Alabama as lead states to investigate LPL’s failure to establish and maintain reasonable policies and procedures to prevent the sale of unregistered, nonexempt securities to the company’s customers.

Securities must be registered or meet an exemption from registration, under state law.

Association President Joseph P. Borg said LPL fully cooperated with the task force, according to a news release from the Mississippi secretary of state’s office.

“Firms must be held accountable when they fail to follow state and federal laws designed to protect investors,” Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said in the news release.

No evidence was found of willful, reckless or fraudulent conduct by LPL, according to the news release, but investigators did find the firm failed to maintain adequate systems to reasonably supervise agents, staff and employees. State investigators also determined that LPL failed to maintain books and records necessary to ensure full compliance with state securities registration requirements, and failed to conduct due diligence regarding the retention, use, and subsequent cancelation of certain third-party services.

LPL failed to invest sufficient and appropriate resources in personnel, expertise, systems, and operations to adequately comply with state securities registration statutes, rules, and regulations.

LPL has agreed to a review of the integration of new securities products to assess the firm’s ability to comply with state securities registration requirements applying to the offer and sale of these new products. It also agreed to a similar review of its vendor service protocols.

For more information, visit www.sos.ms.gov/securities or call the Mississippi secretary of state’s Securities Division at 601-359-1334.

Original Source:  Clarion Ledger

Jackson, Miss. (Y’all Politics) –

Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism advocacy and research organization, recognized Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann at the annual Autism Law Summit today for his efforts to increase autism awareness and insurance coverage for autism in Mississippi.

Secretary Hosemann and his wife, Lynn, who has also been a zealous advocate for children diagnosed with autism, were in attendance to accept the organization’s 2018 Executive Champion Award.

“This award recognizes significant public service on the part of an executive official in government,” said Lorri Unumb, Vice President of State Government Affairs for Autism Speaks. “Secretary Hosemann’s admirable commitment to this cause has been apparent since I met him a couple of years ago. We are thankful for his efforts in Mississippi.”

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, and other unique strengths and differences.

Past winners of the Autism Speaks’ Executive Award include Ohio Governor John Kasich, Michigan Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley, Georgia Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle, and California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones.

“Our children are our most valuable asset, and the early years are the most critical.  We have to make sure all children and their parents have access to treatment and diagnostic services as soon as possible to give them the best chance for a fulfilling life,” Secretary Hosemann said.  “We could not have gotten this far without strong partnerships with Representative Steve Massengill, Senator Rita Parks, and others, and I thank them for their commitment and share this award with them.”

Mississippi has seen the following developments in autism awareness and treatment in recent years:

• In 2015, Secretary Hosemann proposed and the Mississippi Legislature—led by Senator Parks and Representative Massengill—enacted House Bill 885, which required private insurers to cover treatment for autism and other developmental disorders, including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA therapy), to age 8.  The bill also created the Mississippi Autism Board, which was housed at the Secretary of State’s Office and licenses professionals to practice ABA therapy in the State.
• In early 2017, Secretary Hosemann, the Mississippi Autism Board, and other clinics and relevant agencies partnered with Autism Speaks to hold its first major coordinated awareness event, an ABA Therapy/Autism Capitol Day.  This is now an annual event in Mississippi.
• In spring/summer 2017, Secretary Hosemann addressed the need for more registered behavior technicians and other ABA therapy professionals with the Mississippi Community College Board.  The Secretary of State’s Office worked with Holmes Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi to create an online RBT course for parents, teachers, and students in the state.  This ground-breaking class is the first of its kind in the United States.  The first course was held in March 2018, and Holmes Community College plans to offer the class in fall 2018 and in 2019.
• In early 2018, Secretary Hosemann partnered with Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney to negotiate an agreement with the State’s three largest private insurers to lift the age cap at no additional cost for parents for coverage for treatment of autism and other development disorders.  The agreement covered 90 percent of all individuals on the spectrum; other insurers did not have an age cap.

“Before Secretary Hosemann joined our cause, the insurance bill failed to pass every year,” said Representative Massengill (R-Hickory Flat), who authored House Bill 885.  “By partnering together, we were able to pass watershed legislation which will make so many Mississippians’ lives better.”

Senator Parks (R-Corinth), who authored the Senate counterpart to House Bill 885, agreed.

“Mississippi has become a leader in the autism arena,” Senator Parks said.  “I’m proud of what we have been able to accomplish so far, and look forward to doing even more for some of our most vulnerable citizens in the future.”

For more information about Autism Speaks, visit www.AutismSpeaks.org.  More information about the Mississippi Autism Board can be accessed at www.sos.ms.gov/autismboard/.

Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann Press Release

Original Source:  Y’all Politics

Jackson, Miss. (DeSoto Times-Tribune) –

Southaven, Miss. (Y’all Politics) –

Tuesday, President Donald Trump visited Southaven, Mississippi to endorse Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith for the upcoming election in November. Hyde-Smith was appointed to the seat formerly held by Senator Thad Cochran after his retirement and is now running to keep it.

The evening began with speakers like MSGOP chairman, Lucian Smith, Congressman Trent Kelly and Lt. Governor Tate Reeves. They spoke of the President’s accomplishments since taking office.

“America is safer because America is stronger. Our President doesn’t back down from our enemies,” said Smith.

As the crowd prepared for President Trump to take the stage, the official Presidential seal was placed on the podium, showing he would soon arrive.

President Trump took to the stage just before 7:00 p.m. to a loud and enthusiastic crowd.

“Hello Mississippi, hello,” said President Trump as the crowd chanted U-S-A. “Well I have to start by saying that 2020 is looking really easy.”

He emphasized the success and current state of affairs across the nation. He said more people are working than ever before, the economy is booming, and wages are rising.

“This week we made history again when I announced that we are replacing the job killing disaster known as NAFTA, with a brand-new U.S., Canada, Mexico trade agreement,” said Trump. This agreement will replace the current North American Free Trade Agreement. The new plan is to be called USMCA. The President said through this plan companies will be staying in the United States versus going oversees to manufacture products.

“We are finally putting America first,” said Trump.“I want to do what’s right for our country, this is a very important time for our country.” 

The President emphasized multiple times throughout his speech the importance of going to the polls in November to vote Republican. He said this vote on November 6th is one of the most important Congressional elections of our lifetime.

“A Democrat takeover of Congress will plunge our country into gridlock and chaos like you haven’t seen before, it will come to a halt,” said Trump.

After he spent some time discussing the importance of the Kavanaugh confirmation to the U.S. Supreme court, calling Democrats the party of crime, and reminding attendees not to trust “fake news,” he began to recognize some major Mississippi supporters of his.

He welcomed Governor Phil Bryant to the stage to say hello to the crowd, mentioned Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, Congressman Trent Kelly, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann and Senator Roger Wicker to name a few. With no further ado he welcomed to the stage Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith.

“Finally I want to introduce the person we are all here tonight to support, a true Mississippi patron, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith. Senator come on up,” said Trump.

“Thank you Mr. President, and I told him, he would get a warm Mississippi welcome, and you did not disappoint,” said Hyde-Smith

She began with recognizing what an honor it is to serve as a Senator under his presidency. Hyde-Smith reminded attendees she has been a long time supporter of Trump, even before winning the election, when he was just a candidate for President.

Hyde-Smith thanked the Governor for the opportunity to serve as Senator after Senator Thad Cochran retired, and said that she is not just serving on behalf of herself, but for the people of Mississippi.

“When I was sworn in as your U.S. Senator, Vice President Mike Pence put this pin on me and said ‘Cindy, this pin will get you into any door in Washington D.C.,’ but I want you to know, this isn’t my pin, it’s Mississippi’s pin,” said Hyde-Smith

Hyde-Smith told the crowd that she and other Senators are working hard to get things done in D.C., including the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

As Hyde-Smith left the stage President Trump spent the remainder of his time reminding onlookers of the corruption he claims to see in the Democratic party, and the utmost importance of voting in the upcoming congressional race.

No Trump rally would be complete without mention of The Wall. He said work is already underway to construct the wall that would protect America’s boarders, and assured those in attendance that our “dumb immigration laws” would be changing.

“To continue our incredible momentum, you have to get your family, your friends, get your neighbors, get your coworkers, get out and vote Republican. Vote for Cindy Hyde-Smith and vote for Roger Wicker,” said President Trump.

He says a vote for Republicans is a vote for lower taxes, reducing crime and respect of law enforcement, safer communities, more products made in the U.S. A. and a vote to reject the Democratic politics of anger, destruction and chaos.

“It’s up to you to decide your fate. The future is in your hands as it was in 2016,” said Trump.

Hyde-Smith faces Republican candidate Chris McDaniel and Democrats Mike Espy and Tobey Bartee on the Nov. 6 ticket.

“We will make America great again,” said Trump.

Original Source:  Y’all Politics 

Columbus, Miss. (Commercial Dispatch) –

Jackson, Miss. (Clarion Ledger) –

Despite thousands of attempts to hack into it, Mississippi’s voting data remains inviolate, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said Wednesday.

The real threat, Hosemann said, is people not voting or being misinformed from garbage info floating around in social media.

“You’re not going to lose your vote unless you don’t go vote — unless you don’t go get in your truck and go cast your vote,” Hosemann said.

Hosemann on Wednesday held a news briefing in advance of the Nov. 6 elections. He talked about cyber security, low voter turnout, a new vote in honor of a soldier program and other efforts to increase voter participation.

Some highlights:

Cyber attacks

Hosemann said Mississippi, like other states, sees continuous attempts to hack into state and local voter data and systems — “thousands per month.” But he said the state, working with Homeland Security, the FBI, National Security Administration and other agencies fends off such attempts and that voting remains secure:

• Voting machines in Mississippi are not hooked up to the internet and cannot be hacked, and data systems have redundant firewalls and other security.
• Hosemann said he spends more time on cyber security than any other issue in his office. He said he has “top secret” clearance and meets or communicates with federal authorities frequently. He said he is not allowed to provide much information about cyber threats, but has urged federal authorities to let the public know more about it.
• Hackers at one point got names and email addresses of former secretary of state employees and tried to trick county clerks into opening email “invoices” to gain access to systems. He said security systems thwarted this.
• Another type of cyber attack is disinformation about candidates or issues on social media. “We see Facebook posts, emails, derogatory remarks or spurious things about individual candidates that are false,” Hosemann said. “It’s most important that you filter out those things, don’t believe everything on the internet. Don’t retweet them. Don’t pass it on when it’s unsubstantiated. Don’t do that.”

Voter apathy, vote for soldiers

Hosemann said this year’s midterm primaries saw historically low voter turnout, a little over 13 percent of the state’s 1.8 million registered voters cast ballots.

“That’s the lowest we’ve had in my memory,” said Hosemann. “… Above all else go vote.”

Hosemann said he is continuing to travel to schools statewide for the Promote the Vote program. For years, he said, school kids holding mock elections before the real ones have picked the winners. “I tell them, ask Momma who she voted for, ask Daddy who he voted for … Don’t let them put their feet under the table on election night unless they’ve cast their ballots.”

Hosemann has started a new “Vote in Honor of a Soldier” program and web page to help spur turnout. The website — now operational — allows people to dedicate their ballot to a soldier or veteran, either anonymously or by using their name. The voter can name the soldier or veteran and write a brief description on the sites “Honor Wall.”

Deadlines, resources

Absentee voting for the Nov. 6 election began on Monday.

The deadline to register to vote in person is Oct. 8. Applications sent by mail must be postmarked no later than Oct. 9. You may register in person at your circuit clerk’s office, municipal clerk’s office, Department of Public Safety and any state or federal agency offering government services, such as the Department of Human Services.

Clerk’s offices will be open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 6, for in-person voter registration and will be open the same hours the two Saturdays before the election for absentee voting.

A mail in registration form can be downloaded from www.yallvote.sos.ms.gov where one can also:

• Check registration status.
• Update your address or name if you are a registered voter.
• Obtain a sample ballot.
• Check your polling place for election day.

Overseas military and others can also find assistance from the Federal Assistance Voting Program at www.fvap.gov.

Original Source:  Clarion Ledger

Starkville, Miss. (The Reflector) –

Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann shared a simple message with Mississippi State students on Tuesday [Sept. 25]: register to vote.

Hosemann spoke to students in advance of a two-day voter registration drive being held on the MSU campus this week. Student leaders organized the drive to coincide with National Voter Registration Day, held annually on the fourth Tuesday in September.

During his speech in Colvard Student Union, Hosemann reminded students there are currently over 3,000 Mississippians deployed in the Middle East with the Mississippi Army National Guard’s 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, who, along with their families back home, are making significant sacrifices to protect core values such as the right to vote.

“You have a right to cast a ballot, and that right has been defended by countless Americans overseas,” Hosemann said. “You have the right, and an obligation. You have an obligation to go vote for those 3,000 Mississippians.”

MSU Student Association President Mayah J. Emerson, a senior educational psychology major from Meridian, is joining student body presidents from Mississippi’s public universities in promoting voter registration through the #MyVoteMatters initiative.

“We’re excited about getting students registered to vote and getting them engaged in government in Mississippi,” Emerson said. “This started with the Student Body Presidents’ Council, and we decided that we really wanted to get students involved and encourage them to get engaged in their community.”

MSU President Mark E. Keenum also encouraged MSU students to vote and commended Emerson for her role in promoting civic engagement among the student body.

“Your vote does matter, and I hope you all understand that and respect that right,” Keenum said. “It’s one of the most important rights you have as a citizen of this great country and that is to express your voice, your opinion, and to make decisions on the leadership of our state and our nation. There’s nothing more important you can do as a citizen than to go vote.”

The Secretary of State’s office is responsible for overseeing elections in Mississippi. For information on elections and voter registration in the Magnolia State, visit www.sos.ms.gov/vote.

Locally, voter information can be found at the Oktibbeha County Circuit Clerk’s Office, located at 108 W. Main Street in Starkville and available via telephone at 662-323-1356.

Original Source:  Mississippi State University