JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
The jury has ruled in favor of plaintiff Joyce Jackson in the Ward 3 election fraud case, and a new election will be held to fill the city council seat. The jury reached a verdict after deliberating for just an hour.
The verdict was unanimous for Joyce Jackson, who only needed nine votes to win a new election.
Leaving the courtroom Jackson said, "No one would have a fair chance to ever be elected if we had let this go on so it has to stop and I am the person to stop it."
Jackson said state laws were broken by poll managers and supporters of her opponent Larita Cooper Stokes.
Jackson's attorney John Reeves told reporters, "We've got to have confidence in our elections. We have to. It starts right there in the polling booth, we got to have qualified trained people that know the law."
Defense attorney Imhotep Alkebu-Lan had characterized this as a case of a sore loser.
Larita Cooper-Stokes left the court saying, "I believe the lies that were told on the stand were evidently believable, but I believe the truth will prevail."
The Jackson City Council must designate a date for a new election within 30 days of their Tuesday Council meeting.
Larita Cooper-Stokes could appeal the jury's ruling, and bring the case back to court, which could push back the election date.
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