The NAACP Virginia State Conference (Virginia NAACP) opposes the proposed closures of the Chap and Agee voting locations in Appomattox County. The Chap and Agee voting precincts have the county’s highest percentages of Black voters, at 36.7% and 24.4%, respectively. They also have the highest percentages of total racial minority voters in the county, at 40.27% and 27.82%, respectively. Closing these voting locations would negatively affect Black voters in Appomattox County, many of whom would be forced to travel significantly farther to cast their ballot – up to an additional thirty minutes driving or four hours walking.
Virginia NAACP President Rev. Cozy Bailey shared the following statement:
“Voting is a fundamental right and the foundation of our democracy. All citizens of Appomattox County are entitled to have an equal opportunity to participate in the electoral process regardless of their race or ethnicity. Throughout our history, various tactics have been employed to limit access to the ballot, including precinct closures, voter ID laws, and other measures that disproportionately affect marginalized communities. The proposed precinct closure plan, if enacted, would perpetuate these historical patterns and result in barriers to participation for Black voters in Appomattox County. We should work to make voting easier and more accessible, not create new obstacles to the ballot box.”
The Virginia NAACP urges the Board of Supervisors to pursue an alternate solution that preserves the fundamental rights of all Appomattox County voters without imposing undue burdens on Black and other voters of color. The Virginia NAACP sent a letter to the Board of Supervisors on February 18 outlining how the proposed closures will negatively impact Black voters in Appomattox County.
The Virginia NAACP will continue fighting to ensure civil rights and social justice for all.