March 7, 2025 Story by: Editor
A proposal to shut down and merge two voting precincts in Appomattox County has sparked concerns about voter accessibility and racial equity, as the move is expected to disproportionately impact Black and minority voters.
During a Board of Supervisors meeting on Jan. 21, 2025, the county’s Board of Elections proposed closing precinct 201 in the Chap community and precinct 502 in Agee. These two precincts have the highest percentages of Black and racial minority voters among the county’s nine precincts.
Data from census blocks compiled by the NAACP Virginia State Conference indicate that Black voters make up 36.7% of the Chap precinct and 24.4% of the Agee precinct. When considering all racial minorities, the figures rise to 40.27% and 27.82%, respectively.
Appomattox County, with a population of just over 16,000, lies between Lynchburg and Farmville and is known as a Republican stronghold. In the 2021 gubernatorial election, Republican Glenn Youngkin overwhelmingly won the county with 80% of the vote, compared to Democrat Terry McAuliffe’s 19%. Similarly, in the 2024 presidential race, former President Donald Trump secured 75% of the vote, while then-Vice President Kamala Harris received 24%.
If the proposed changes are approved, many voters in these precincts would face significantly longer travel times to reach their polling locations—some by as much as 30 additional minutes by car or over four hours on foot. The lack of public transportation in the area adds to the challenge, particularly for elderly voters and those without personal vehicles.
The Virginia NAACP has strongly opposed the plan, describing it as a direct threat to voting rights.
“Voting is a fundamental right and the foundation of our democracy,” said Virginia NAACP President Rev. Cozy Bailey.
“All citizens of Appomattox County are entitled to have an equal opportunity to participate in the electoral process regardless of their race or ethnicity. Throughout our history, various tactics have been employed to limit access to the ballot, including precinct closures, voter ID laws, and other measures that disproportionately affect marginalized communities.”
Bailey further warned that implementing the proposal would “perpetuate these historical patterns and result in barriers to participation for Black voters in Appomattox County.”
Source: Yahoo News
