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Published on January 16, 2025
Justice Department Sues Fayette County, Tennessee, Alleging Voting Rights Violations Against Black VotersSource: Google Street View

The Department of Justice has taken legal action against Fayette County, Tennessee, challenging the methods by which county officials have drawn district lines. Citing Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, the lawsuit, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, points to practices that allegedly suppress Black voters' ability to elect representatives of their choice.

Outlined in the complaint, officials are said to have bypassed proposals that would have enabled cohesive Black communities to influence elections during the redistricting cycle in 2021. In doing so, the statement claims, the Board of County Commissioners ignored both its own advisory committee and the guidance of an attorney hired to assist with redistricting.

"The right to vote is sacred and is the foundation for our ability to exercise all other civil rights," Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said. "Black voters should have the equal opportunity to elect their candidates of choice, but the redistricting map adopted by Fayette County did not provide that opportunity." Clarke affirmed the Justice Department's dedication to uphold the Voting Rights Act and ensure the equal participation of all citizens in the electoral process.

Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee joined in, emphasizing that Black voters in Fayette County deserve equal chances to choose their leaders. "Our office is committed to ensuring fairness and equality in the electoral process," Fondren stated.

The efforts to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act and other federal mandates are a collaboration between the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. Information on voting rights and election integrity is accessible at the Justice Department's website while concerns about potential infringements can be raised directly through the division's website or a dedicated telephone line.