April 15, 2025 Story by: Publisher
The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) and Wiggins, Childs, Pantazis, Fisher & Goldfarb filed a lawsuit against the Madison County Commission on behalf of the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP and two Black voters in Madison County, Veronica Curtis-Richie and Angela Curry.
The suit challenges the current voting system, which denies Black people an equal opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
“This is an important case that challenges a discriminatory method of conducting county elections, which makes Black residents more vulnerable to discriminatory education, employment, and health outcomes,” Brittany Carter, Assistant Counsel at the Legal Defense Fund said. “LDF will continue to defend the voting rights of Black people.”
“The Alabama NAACP continues to seek justice and equality in voting,” Benard Simelton, president of Alabama NAACP said. “We will not stop, we will not give up until African American voters are no longer disenfranchised and all our votes are counted. This is another opportunity for us to come closer to making that a reality.”
The current districting structure of the Madison County Commission is comprised of one at-large seat and six single-member districts. As a result of this “6-1” system of electing commissioners and historic block voting along racial lines, white residents control 6 out of 7 (or 84% of) seats on the Commission even though they only represent approximately 64% of the county’s voting population.
By contrast, Black residents comprise 25% of the voting age population but are only able to elect a candidate of choice to one of the seven seats. Redrawing the current districts would allow Black voters to form a second opportunity-to-elect district, thereby enabling Black voters to elect a second preferred candidate to the Commission.
“Black voters like me pay taxes and contribute to Madison County’s economy and culture,” Veronica Curtis-Richie, an individual voter said, “and we undoubtedly have the right to elect candidates of our choice who share our values, goals, and lived experiences.”
“The current voting structure denies the Black community of Madison County the opportunity to shape our communal lives because it minimizes our role in the political process,” Angela Curry, an individual voter said. “I am proud to join this lawsuit to ensure that our voices and votes are heard.”
“Voting is a fundamental right within our democracy. However, when that vote is diluted or minimized, as is the case for Black voters currently in Madison County, we must make a stand,” Sidney Jackson, Partner at Wiggins, Childs, Pantazis, Fisher & Goldfarb said. “Every American citizen has a right to vote in free and fair elections. Change must take place in Madison County to ensure that fairness for Black voters.”
Read the complaint.
Source: NAACP Legal Defense Fund
