Macon Council Asks U.S. Department of Justice to Look into Changed Voting Procedures

MACON, Ga. (41NBC/WMGT) – Macon City Council members want the U.S. Department of Justice to get involved in the controversy over how elections will be held in Bibb County.

Lawmakers recently approved changing the county’s elections to a non-partisan format and moving them from November to July.

Democratic party members say those moves were made to weaken black voting strength and that voters didn’t approve those changes when they voted for consolidation in July.

Council Tuesday night voted 11-2 to ask the Department of Justice to investigate–this after Congressman James Beverly Monday filed a complaint with the DOJ about the situation.

“We feel good about what we’re going to submit–or what we already have submitted–to the Justice Department, ” says Macon City Council member Elaine Lucas.  “We are hoping that they will see the merit in our argument and will deny pre-clearance on this.”

Lucas says the resolution will be accompanied by more than 75 signed affidavits and will be sent off to the DOJ first thing Wednesday morning.