The US Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Houston County, Georgia, on Thursday, accusing the county’s election system of discriminating against Black voters.
The lawsuit claims that the county’s method of electing commissioners, where all voters elect each commissioner, violates the Voting Rights Act. Black voters, who make up nearly one-third of the electorate, are said to be unfairly outvoted by the white population.
According to the lawsuit quoted by Associated Press, “White voters cast their ballots sufficiently as a bloc to defeat Black voters’ preferred candidate,” meaning that the voting system prevents Black candidates from winning.
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Since the end of the Civil War, only one Black commissioner has been elected, and all current commissioners are white, including Chairman Dan Perdue.
The Justice Department argues that the county’s election system does not give Black candidates a fair chance to win. It has suggested that dividing the county into smaller districts, each electing its own commissioner, would make elections fairer for Black voters.
The county commissioners responded by saying they are looking into the allegations. They assured that if the investigation shows a violation, they will take necessary actions to comply with the law. The Justice Department is asking the court to stop countywide elections and push for a more inclusive system.
Houston County is mostly rural but is also home to Robins Air Force Base, which is Georgia’s largest industrial complex. The base employs 22,000 people, including military members, civilians, and contractors.
