Story of The Quitman 10 + 2

Voting Rights Threatened in Georgia Town: The Case of the Quitman 10 + 2

Adriane Harden

Not many people know about The Quitman 10 +2.

Quitman is a small town of about 5000 people, 67% African American, in rural South Georgia, not far from the Florida state line.  A few years ago, a group of citizens, tired of having no voice in their community,  decided to go out and encourage residents to exercise their right to vote.  Going door-to-door, they were successful with voter registration and education. Hundreds became new voters and engaged in the political life of their community. Three candidates were chosen to run for two School Board positions and one County Commission seat. Relying heavily on advance voting and voting via absentee ballot, the three African Americans beat white incumbents in the Democratic primary. The losers entered as write-in candidates in the November 2010 general election but lost again.

In Georgia, there are no restrictions on who can use an absentee ballot and advance voting  provided more flexibility for casting a ballot. By employing these two alternate methods of voting, many whose work schedules or family responsibilities had hindered them from voting in the past were encouraged to express their view. The balance of power on the School Board was altered and an African American educator, Dr. Nancy Dennard, was named chair of the Board. Upset by the outcome,  the local District Attorney ordered a GBI investigation.  Shortly after the newly elected members took office, on Dec. 21, 2010, 10  people including Dr. Dennard the other successful candidates,  were arrested and charged with alleged unlawful possession of ballots that favored the board members in the 2010 Brooks County school board election.   500 people kept vigil at the jail until they were released.

Since their arrest on December 2010, they have not been indicted and have not heard anything else from the District Attorney’s office.  A year later, two more people were charged with voter fraud.

 On January 10, 2012, Governor Nathan Deal of Georgia suspended three of the African American Brooks County School Board members, by way of an Executive Order.   These members have not been convicted of anything, much less voter fraud.

The suspension returns the Brooks County school board to a white majority, effectively dismissing the result s of the election.

 The Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials (GABEO )will hold their winter conference on February 24-26 2012 in Quitman, Georgia and have planned a March and Rally on the courthouse to demand the charges be dropped and the suspension of their terms be lifted.

For more information, please contact Adriane Harden@ 678-653-2012 or email amharden@gmail.com