[10/15/03]Voters in three Warren County precincts will see a different ballot Nov. 4 than they may have expected due to a revote in two Hinds County precincts Tuesday.

When the votes were counted after the Aug. 5 Republican primary, Jep Barbour of Yazoo City, the incumbent in House District 56, had apparently won the GOP nomination over Philip Gunn of Clinton 2,804 votes to 2,787.

In addition to the three Warren precincts, the meandering district covers parts of Madison, Sharkey and Yazoo counties.

Due to improper voting in two Hinds precincts, Republican voters in the Holy Savior Catholic Church and Wildwood Baptist Church polling places returned to the polls.

Gunn received 2,936 votes to Barbour’s 2,783 to become the new apparent winner in the complete but unofficial returns. At the Holy Savior precinct, Gunn picked up 30 votes to none for Barbour, and at Wildwood, Gunn received 387 to 11 for Barbour, placing him up 153 votes.

Ken Avery, chairman of the Hinds County Republican Executive Committee, said Tuesday’s revote will not likely be the end of the controversy. Attorneys for both candidates are expected to file briefs with the Mississippi Supreme Court, and there could be a hearing next week.

Although all or parts of the Oak Ridge, Bovina and Culkin precincts voted in the Aug. 5 primary, they did not participate in the revote. At that time, Gunn outpolled Barbour 172 votes to 104.

The Republican nominee will face the Democrat nominee, Paige Eaves Gill of Madison, in the general election.