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The Legal Defense Fund and the Birmingham-based firm Wiggins, Childs, Pantazis, Fisher and Goldfarb filed a federal lawsuit Monday against the Madison County Commission, alleging that its current voting structure violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by diluting Black voting power.
Filed on behalf of the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP and two Black voters — Veronica Curtis-Richie and Angela Curry — the suit challenges the “6-1” election system used to select commissioners in Madison County.
Under the current structure, six commissioners are elected from single-member districts, and one is elected at-large. Due to racially polarized voting patterns and the way district lines are drawn, white residents — who make up roughly 64 percent of the county’s voting population — hold six of the seven commission seats. Black residents, who account for 25 percent of voting-age citizens, can only consistently elect a candidate of their choice to one district.
“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,” said Brittany Carter, assistant counsel at the Legal Defense Fund. “LDF will continue to defend the voting rights of Black people.”
The lawsuit seeks to have the county’s electoral map redrawn to create a second majority-Black or opportunity-to-elect district, which plaintiffs argue would allow Black voters to elect another candidate of their choice to the Commission.
Benard Simelton, president of the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP, said the lawsuit is part of a long fight to protect voting rights in the state.
“We will not stop, we will not give up until African American voters are no longer disenfranchised and all our votes are counted,” Simelton said. “This is another opportunity for us to come closer to making that a reality.”
Individual plaintiffs Veronica Curtis-Richie and Angela Curry echoed the call for change, emphasizing the unequal political representation faced by the Black community in Madison County.
“Black voters like me pay taxes and contribute to Madison County’s economy and culture,” said Curtis-Richie. “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,” Curry added. “I am proud to join this lawsuit to ensure that our voices and votes are heard.”
Sidney Jackson, a partner with the law firm representing the plaintiffs, said the time for action is now.
“Voting is a fundamental right within our democracy,” Jackson said. “However, when that vote is diluted or minimized, as is the case for Black voters currently in Madison County, we must make a stand. Change must take place to ensure fairness for Black voters.”
The lawsuit comes amid a broader national push for fair representation and voting rights enforcement, particularly in Southern states where redistricting battles have intensified following the 2020 census.
