Oxford churches involved in Prop 26 discussion

For some, church is a place of worship, for others, it’s a stop on the road to the ballot box.

Pastor Richardson of North Oxford Baptist Church has been preaching about Amendment 26, but says it’s a moral rather than a political issue.

“There is nothing wrong with making it the subject of a sermon,” Richardson said. “We chose to show a video, and I spoke around that for a few minutes.”

According to Richardson, the Bible is the main source of Christian belief, and he says Jeremiah 5: 1 describes how God knows a person before he or she is formed in the womb.

“A person is a person, no matter where they are conceived,” Richardson said. “The Christian belief is that a person begins at fertilization.”

Richardson says many of the controversial aspects of the amendment will likely be addressed if it’s passed and becomes law.

“I don’t know anyone that is not in support of birth control or in vitro fertilization,” Richardson said. “The amendment is not legislation, it’s passed with a language and the legislation comes in to help with each and every issue concerning that amendment.”

Ole Miss political science prof talks about Prop 26 impact

Even for analysts who study politics for a living, this Mississippi election is more interesting than most. Ole Miss assistant professor in political science Dr. Jonathan Winburn is particularly focused on Proposition 26.

Winburn says that the lack of precedent and the ambiguity of the proposition itself makes predicting the amendment’s possible impact difficult.

“I think it’s not very well put together because it is so vague. From the proponents arguing for it as an attempt to limit abortion, you see what they’re trying to do, but I think it’s the potential for unintended consequences that go well beyond the abortion debate that is the part that makes it not very well written,” said Winburn.

Prop 26 brings younger voters to polls in Oxford

Some younger Mississippi voters made their way to the Oxford-Lafayette Chamber of Commerce to cast their ballots today.

They say they felt compelled to vote in this election specifically because of the controversial “Personhood Amendment,” which appears on the ballot as Initiative 26.

Erin Doctor is a first-time Mississippi voter who went to the voting booth this morning.

“[What brought me here] was the ability to vote for Proposition 26, whether or not personhood starts at fertilization… this is the first time I have come out to vote in Mississippi,”said Doctor.

At the Chamber of Commerce site, voting was steady throughout the morning.

Frank Poole is a volunteer at the polls.  He voted via absentee ballot, but said he always says yes when they ask him to volunteer.

“It’s my patriotic duty,” said Poole.

Polls close at 7 p.m. and voters seem eager to have their opinions influence this election.

Mississippi “Personhood” supporters out in Oxford

You don’t have to go far to find supporters of Initiative 26, the “Personhood Amendment,” in Oxford.

Larry and Arlene Dilley of Oxford are spending their day rallying for its passage outside the Chamber of Commerce building. Arlene wouldn’t speak of her opinions because she said she might cry.

Larry, an avid supporter of the amendment, said, “We understand that there are very difficult circumstances in some cases, particularly rape and incest, but yet the little child that is fertilized and has been conceived has a right to life too.”

Hear more of what Larry has to say.

Across the nation, people are watching this Mississippi race closely.  An organization called Public Policy Polling out of Raleigh, North Carolina says the results on the Personhood Amendment are too close to call.  According to their survey, 45% of voters supporting the amendment and 44% opposed.  The survey of just under 800 voters was conducted Nov. 4-6, and the margin of error is reported as +/-3.5%.