by Christopher Cooper
People often assume that decisions about voting are made in legislatures or courts—and many are. But many other critical decisions about voting are made not by these elected bodies but by appointed ones. For example, all 100 county boards of elections are currently deciding where to place early voting sites for the 2026 General Election.
Often these decisions are not particularly controversial. For example, in the 2026 primary, 88 county boards came to unanimous agreement. In the cases where the board disagrees, the decision then moves to the state board of elections where it’s a bit more controversial.
One of the more controversial decisions is happening in my home county of Jackson. While local and state journalists are doing an excellent job covering the story, the players, and the consequences, I thought I’d offer a complementary perspective based on my expertise as a political scientist who studies, among other things, state politics and elections.
