Justice Department rejects non-partisan voting in NC

On August 18, city officials in Kinston, North Carolina, received a letter from the U.S. Justice Department, saying the Department will not approve letting Kinston switch from partisan city elections to non-partisan city elections.

The voters had voted to switch to non-partisan elections in November 2008. Now the city must hold a partisan primary on September 15, 2009, and a partisan general election on November 3. Also, Earl Harper, a candidate who is an independent voter, must collect the signatures of 4% of the city’s registered voters in order to run. The signatures are due in September; Harper needs about 560 valid signatures.

Under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the DOJ must approve voting changes in selected states and communities such as those in Lenoir County to ensure those changes would not hurt minority voters.

In a letter sent to City Attorney Jim Cauley late Monday, acting Assistant Attorney General Loretta King stated “the elimination of party affiliation on the ballot will likely reduce the ability of blacks to elect candidates of choice.”

Use the above link to read the entire article by David Anderson on encToday.com.

Michael H. Drucker
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