The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) sent a letter today to the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners on behalf of Black Voters Matter (“BVM”), to alert them that an unacceptable act of voter intimidation – potentially violating several laws – took place in Jefferson County on Monday, October 15. According to our understanding, a group of 40 senior citizens, most of whom are Black, intended to travel together to vote for the start of early voting in Jefferson County, but were ultimately told from a woman who represented herself as the Jefferson County Clerk that it was illegal for the seniors to travel to the polls on BVM’s bus because the vehicle was not registered for that purpose. As far as we have been able to determine, there is no provision in Georgia or Jefferson County law that provides any basis for the caller’s allegation.
LDF asked that an immediate investigation into the incident be opened and that County officials take steps to not only condemn these actions, but make clear that voter intimidation has no place in any area of Georgia. During this electoral season, we all should be committed to ensuring that more, not fewer, eligible voters can participate and exercise their fundamental right to vote.
Read our full letter here.
