This week, civil rights attorneys filed a federal lawsuit against Fayette County. They say the county’s at-large elections violate the Voting Rights Act.

The NAACP Legal Defense Fund joined with local voters to file the suit. Fayette County is more than 70-percent white and 20-percent black. The lawsuit seeks to have local candidates run in five equal districts instead of county-wide.

Plaintiff attorney Wayne Kendall says a recent county commission election proves it’s nearly impossible to get elected if you are black.

“There were five candidates that ran for that seat. Two were black Republicans, two were black Democrats, and there was one white Republican. The white Republican won the election without a runoff in a five person race.”

Fayette County did elect black magistrate Judge Chuck Floyd in 2004

Tags: Voting Rights Act of 1965, Fayette County, NACP Legal Defense Fund