By Michelle Sanchez, CASA in Action Regional Voter Engagement Manager
I did a double take when Jonesboro, which is a 25-minute drive from Atlanta, announced its double election day. The Jonesboro City Council moved to host the city and county elections separately at a separate location with times which don't include extended hours or weekends. All of the political issues and candidates should be on one ballot in one place, but, not for the first time, this isn’t true.
On 11 Alive: 'Simply ridiculous' | Five Jonesboro council members skipped mayor's meeting on voter suppression. All five white Jonesboro council members voted last week to have separate polling locations for city and county elections.
Doubling is significantly more expensive than holding one election in one location, making taxpayers foot the bill for what appears to be an intentional effort to stifle voters from casting their ballot. Originally costing $11,000, this voter suppression tactic is financed by Jonesboro residents at the hefty price tag of $24,000. I don’t understand how this was approved since this doubled price was not budgeted for.
When voters called for accountability, demanding why the city council made this move, city council members failed to show their faces. I am disappointed to see that Jonesboro City Council members fail to be champions for the greatness of America’s democracy and encourage every opportunity for voters to make their voices heard.
With voter mobilization powerhouse CASA in Action, I have dedicated my life to mobilizing voters: now, the Jonesboro City Council has renewed a dastardly creative way to stifle voters’ power. For now.