A Mississippi Supreme Court decision means another election for sheriff in Coahoma County.

In a 4-2 opinion Thursday, the court upheld a prior ruling from Coahoma County Circuit Court that a new special election for sheriff should be held.

The case, which was appealed to the Supreme Court by incumbent Sheriff Andrew Thompson Jr., stems from the Aug. 7, 2007, Democratic primary between Thompson, Friars Point Police Chief Charles Jones and four other candidates. At issue were over 100 improperly signed absentee ballots which had been included in the final count.

After all votes were tallied, Thompson was certified by the election commission as the winner with a narrow 50.16 percent of the vote. Jones, who came in second, formally filed a complaint in Circuit Court.