Submitted

The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.

The Henry County NAACP is protesting the decision of the office of the of the Henry County Board of Elections to disenfranchise the votes of 140 citizens of Henry County. During the May 24 primary election cycle, it was announced by the Henry County Elections Commission Director, Amika Pitts, that 140 voters in District 4 received a District 3 Ballot in error. This error prevented all Henry County residents from voting in the Board of Education election for their respective district and ultimately participating fully in the 2022 GA primary election process. As a result, only 93 votes decided this election.

This egregious error was also discussed and confirmed during June 1, 2022, Board of Election meeting broadcasted live via the Henry County Government Facebook page.

The Henry County Branch NAACP opposes the actions taken to disenfranchise the votes of 140 citizens of Henry County. We believe in open, equal, and protected access to the ballot. Therefore, Henry County must remove all barriers to fully participating in the election process.

Simply put, our membership contends that any error orchestrated by the Henry County Board of Elections and the Director where corrective action is not taken constitutes an abject failure in the goal to ensure secure, fair, and certain elections for all Georgians.

While we greatly appreciate the efforts of the Board of the elections to make sure voters from Districts 3 and 4 could vote accurately by partisan lines in all federal, state-wide, and county-wide non-more to ensure every voter can participate fully and all votes are counted correctly. Until such time that this error is made right, our membership is demanding corrective action be taken to ensure a judicious and fair election whereby all Henry County citizens have the opportunity to vote. The request extends to placing the Board of Education race for District 4 back on the ballot for a vote in the November 2022 General Election. Voting is a right that every citizen should have and receive without question.

Sincerely,
The Henry County Branch NAACP