ATLANTA – Yesterday, Gwinnett voted on a referendum to approve the county’s contract with MARTA; the referendum did not pass. The county’s 5-member board of commissioners chose to schedule a separate election date rather than put the referendum on the regularly-scheduled November ballot, a clear attempt to depress turnout and a move the Atlanta Journal-Constitution declared “shocking.”
Fair Fight CEO Lauren Groh-Wargo released the following statement on the vote:
“The MARTA referendum outcome is disheartening. But what is most upsetting is the fact that county leaders decided to hold this vote in March rather than November. The vote was scheduled yesterday to deliberately depressed turnout, particularly among voters of color and low-income voters who may not get paid for time off to vote and may struggle to make it to the polls. This was voter suppression and it was shameful. We will continue to fight voter suppression wherever it exists and make sure the voices of all eligible Georgians are heard.”