Georgia County Fires Consultant Who Recommended Closing Almost All Its Polling Places

His dismissal comes amid accusations that his proposal discriminated against black voters.
|
Open Image Modal
YinYang via Getty Images

A Georgia county has fired a consultant who had recommended closing almost all of its polling places, prompting accusations that he was trying to disenfranchise the county’s majority-black population, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and The Associated Press.

Michael Malone, who was hired in April, publicly presented plans to close seven of nine polling locations in Randolph County, which is more than 60 percent black. Malone said the measure would save the county money and was appropriate because the seven polling locations were not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

However, a HuffPost public records request revealed that the county had no formal study of the ADA issues at the polling places or what it would take to fix them, even on a temporary basis.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia and other civil rights groups warned the county against implementing the proposal, saying it was discriminatory and that they would likely sue. The ACLU noted the county’s racial makeup and that some voters lived in areas without public transportation and were unlikely to have a car.

Malone’s dismissal comes as the county is set to vote on his proposal to close to polling places.

Tommy Coleman, a lawyer representing the county, told the AJC he would be “the most surprised person in Georgia” if the proposal passed. 

Coleman did not immediately return a request for comment. He told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the proposal to consolidate polling places initiated the conversation about Malone’s dismissal among the county commissioners.

Support HuffPost

At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.

Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.

Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.

Support HuffPost