Candidates in the recent election are to be commended for the type of campaign each carried out. Both Dennis Darby and Otis Griffin carried themselves well with passion but without personal campaign messages smearing each other.

While some supporters of each candidate may have exposed their backsides in a few instances, the biggest problem seems to be not in the campaigning, but in election day flare-ups at polling locations. They occur repeatedly—usually at the same voting places.

For first time campaigners and candidates, it must appear bizarre. For those who have closely watched local elections over the years, it’s expected at certain precincts anytime there is a hotly contested or close election.

While the majority of precincts hold orderly, cordial elections with few or no instances of problems or charges of misconduct, a few precincts consistently have problems.

And there seems to be little that can be done.

When attempts were made to video, complaints of intimidation arose. When law enforcement was asked to be present, more complaints of intimidation followed. When a state Attorney General’s office investigator assured that a resignation was forthcoming on the election commission, nothing happened.

A few state and federal officials as well as candidates’ poll watchers are usually on hand to challenge questionable actions, report problems or record misconduct.

Little or no official action seems ever to be taken and emphasis on the election day problems seems to wane as time goes by for a year or  . . . or four, until another hotly contested election comes around and it’s deja vu all over again.

As long as even a small number of polling places in Panola County continue with problems we will have a hard time placing our confidence in our democratic elections process.