March 9, 2025 Story by: Editor
Two Black voters have joined the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) lawsuit against the elections chair of Houston County, aiming to alter the county’s election system. The lawsuit, initially filed by the DOJ on January 16 against Houston County and its commissioners—Dan Perdue, Shane Gottwals, Gail Robinson, Tal Talton, and Mark Byrd—was updated on Tuesday to include the two voters, according to court records.
The lawsuit contends that Houston County’s current election process “dilutes the voting strength of Black citizens,” thereby violating the Voting Rights Act. On January 25, county residents Courtney Driver and Mike Jones requested to participate in the case, and federal Judge Marc Treadwell granted their request on Tuesday.
“The Court finds that Driver and Jones seek to offer evidence that could shed a different light on issues before this Court,” Treadwell ruled.
Following their formal inclusion in the case, Driver and Jones expanded the lawsuit by also suing the Houston County Board of Elections and its chair, Pamela Morgan. In their complaint, the two plaintiffs proposed additional measures to address what they claim are the county’s electoral deficiencies. They also cited a “history of discrimination that extends beyond Houston County,” according to court records.
Proposed Solutions to Alleged Voting Issues
Driver and Jones have suggested several reforms to Houston County’s voting system, including:
- Cumulative voting – allowing voters to allocate multiple votes to a single candidate.
- Limited voting – restricting the number of candidates a voter can select.
- Ranked-choice voting – enabling voters to rank candidates in order of preference.
Their participation in the case comes at a time when concerns are growing over the future of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, which was frozen early in President Donald Trump’s most recent term, court records indicate.
According to the records, “(Driver and Jones) are prepared to litigate this case expeditiously and seek no delay. They merely seek to protect the rights of Black voters in Houston County.”
Like the DOJ, Driver, and Jones are asking a federal judge to declare that Houston County’s election system violates the Voting Rights Act and to prevent the county from conducting future elections under its current structure until a compliant system is implemented. The two plaintiffs are represented by attorneys Bryan Sells and Lynsey Barron.
DOJ’s Lawsuit Against Houston County
The DOJ filed its lawsuit against Houston County’s election board, citing that despite an increase in the Black population, “Black-preferred candidates (that) have run for the Board of Commissioners … have routinely lost.”
The lawsuit highlights that Houston County’s Black and white communities are geographically and socially distinct, with Black residents primarily residing in northern and eastern Warner Robins. Churches and other community institutions also reflect this racial divide, the DOJ stated in its filing.
Houston County’s Population and Voting Trends
As of 2023, the U.S. Census estimates Houston County’s population at 171,974. Approximately 105,000 residents are active registered voters, with around 55% identifying as white and nearly 30% as Black. The DOJ claims that white voters “turn out to vote at significantly higher rates than Black registered voters” in the county.
However, the DOJ argues that the Black community is “sufficiently numerous and geographically compact” to form a majority voting bloc in a single-member district under a revised election plan. Driver and Jones support this assessment, according to court documents.
The DOJ proposes that redistricting could create a majority-Black district encompassing neighborhoods in northern and eastern Warner Robins, as well as apartment complexes along Carl Vinson Parkway. The plan could also include racially diverse areas in southern Warner Robins, ensuring that “Black voters would have the opportunity to elect their preferred candidates in elections conducted solely within the boundaries of such a district,” the DOJ stated.
Additionally, the DOJ noted that Houston County has a history of racial discrimination affecting Black residents’ access to education, healthcare, and employment—factors that “hinder(s) the ability of Black residents to participate effectively in the political process.” The agency warned that unless changes are made, the county’s current election system will continue to violate the Voting Rights Act.
Houston County’s Response
On December 19, the DOJ informed Houston County that it had conducted a multi-year investigation into possible Voting Rights Act violations and requested a response within two weeks, according to county attorney Bryan Tyson. However, Tyson stated that no one from the DOJ had reached out to local government officials during the investigation.
Houston County officials requested additional details and met with DOJ representatives on January 8 to discuss the allegations. The DOJ subsequently filed the lawsuit on January 16.
“Houston County will always follow the law,” Tyson stated. “At this time, Houston County is continuing to investigate the allegations made by the DOJ and determine whether the evidence supports those allegations. We will also continue to speak with members of the community about DOJ’s claims. Importantly, the DOJ lawsuit does not contain any allegations of intentional racial discrimination in Houston County.”
Tyson added that while the DOJ rushed to file the lawsuit before the change in presidential administration, the county believed it was necessary to conduct a thorough review before responding.
“We did not feel it would be prudent to respond in fewer than 30 days to a multi-year investigation, especially before we were able to obtain and review all of the relevant evidence,” Tyson said.
He further noted, “If we determine if we agree with the DOJ regarding a possible violation of the Voting Rights Act after reviewing all of the documents and evidence, we will take appropriate action at that time.”
Source: The Telegraph
