EXHIBIT '11 NUMBER OF PERSONS LISTED BY FEDERAL EXAMINERS UNDER THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, 1965-74 Source: U.S. Civil Service Commission, Bureau of Manpower Information Systems. EXHIBIT 12 ESTIMATED PERCENTAGE OF BLACK VOTERS RECISTERED BY FEDERAL EXAMINERS, 1964-74 1 U.S. Civil Service Commission, Bureau of Manpower Information Services. EXHIBIT 13 EXAMPLES OF SITUATIONS IN WHICH OBSERVERS WERE AUTHORIZED I. Tallulah, Louisiana, March 23, 1974, election.-In this city primary elections are being held to fill the offices of mayor, three aldermen, the chief of police and the three positions on the Democratic Executive Committee. There are black and white candidates for each office. According to 1970 Census figures, the city's population was 9,643 with blacks representing 66.5% of that total. Voter registration figures by race fairly accurately reflect the raw population percentage. The city has a history of racially inspired election difficulties and, though this year's campaign has been "quiet" thus far, it has simultaneously been characterized as intense. Contacts in both the black and white communities have acknowledged that given the campaign's intensity and the prevalent racial atmosphere in the city, allegations of misconduct will be made by leaders of the losing "side." Federal observers would provide both a calmative and objective presence in such a charged political atmosphere. II. Lake Providence, Louisiana, March 23, 1974, election. In this city primary elections are being held to elect a mayor, chief of police, five aldermen and three members of the city's Democratic Executive Committee. There are black and white candidates for each of these offices. According to the 1970 Census the city had a population of 6,183, with blacks representing 67.3% of that total. Voter registration statistics as current as February 20, 1974 indicate a total registration of 3,555 with 2,101 or 59.09% of that figure representing black registrants. The city has a long history of discriminatory treatment of blacks. There prevails an atmosphere of distrust with the intimation of dishonesty and intimidation on the part of some individuals currently scheduled to serve as election commissioners at some election precincts. III. Greene County, Alabama, November 5, 1974, election.-This county contains 10,650 people of which 8,027 are black; voter registration is comparable. Races in which black candidates (NDPA) are opposed by white candidates (Dem) are district attorney, State Senate, and House of Representatives. In addition, NDPA candidates, black, are opposed by black independent candidates in races for sheriff and board of education. In the primary, only election officials provided assistance, but in the general election, friends may assist. All the officials contacted (black and white) expect persons providing assistance, including black high school students, to thrust themselves on illiterate voters when the illiterate voters go in the booth. The officials in the county recognize that this pressure by persons supporting candidates exists and the probate judge, sheriff, and city attorney all requested observers. The atmosphere has been tense since the primary election in May and includes disruption of the NDPA convention by high school students. Observers should exert a calming influence. IV. Lowndes County, Alabama, November 5, 1974, election.-This county has a population of 12,897 of which 9,930 (77%) is black. Blacks comprise 55.5% of registered voters. There are five black candidates (sheriff, coroner, and three for board of education) who won in the primary and who are being opposed by the whites they defeated and who are running as Conservative Party candidates. In spite of the strong showing that blacks made in the primary and in spite of their majority in voters and population, very few were initially appointed to be polling officials for the November election. It was only after intervention by State Democratic Committee that a few more blacks were appointed to be poll officials and the probate judge expects this to be challenged in court. The probate judge, who is white, has requested federal observers because he believes that the white slate will do anything to win and he credits the smooth elections in the past to federal presence. V. Wilcox County, Alabama, November 5, 1974, election.-This county has a total population of 16,303, of which 68.5% are black; blacks have run for several offices for several years and with the exception of winning races for constable and Democratic Executive Committee, they have not been successful. None of the black candidates for county office in the primary won; blacks are running on the NDPA ticket in November. In addition, the NDPA slate contains two white candidates. Because of a variety of difficulties in previous elections, we have usually had some of the polling places covered. Local officials have in past elections devised a variety of techniques to frustrate blacks' attempts to elect candidates for each election. In the past, there has been a paucity of black election officials, restrictions on black poll watchers, voting in white stores without secret ballots (ballots must be left out of the box and pens could not be used to mark the ballot), and some officials not allowing illiterate blacks to bring in friends to assist. In addition, during the recent primary, several polling officials in rural boxes intimidated blacks in the voting area by their talking with candidates, conferring when blacks came in, and by general confusion. VI. Kemper County, Mississippi, November 5, 1974, election.-In this county there are two blacks running for school board offices, the first black candidates since reconstruction. Both are opposed by whites. The county contains 10,223 people, including 5,612 blacks. Blacks comprise 48.7% of the voting age population. There is reluctance on the part of registration officials to advise the black community of the opportunity to register and full compliance with the 1965 Act was not accomplished for several months after its enactment. Our recent survey indicates that this county is operated, vis a vis blacks, the way the typical Mississippi County was operated in the early 1960's. The need for federal observers is demonstrated by the manner in which the election is to be conducted. Until this election, the officials appointed 10-15 blacks to work at the polls; now only 2 out of 90 were appointed, both of whom had not worked previously, until the black community protested and an additional 20 were appointed. However, there was no reduction in the number of white poll workers and the exact authority or function of the additional 20 is unknown This is significant because black poll workers at previous elections indicate that white poll workers would insist on aiding black illiterates and would mark the ballots incorrectly. While the county clerk said that illiterates could have a friend assist, the practice in recent elections has been for poll officials to assist and there is no indication that the Clerk will require local poll officials to allow friends to assist. The other aspect of the election which deserves attention is the fact that 17 of the 29 polling places are in stores owned by white persons and in 11 of the 17, the store owner or his wife are polling officials. In 7 of the 11, two or three of the poll managers are related to the owner of the store. In addition to the failure of election officials to vote correctly for illiterates, this election should have a record high number of illiterates voting. The black voters are apprehensive about voting in the white owned stores because of fear of not being able to vote the way they want and because the poll workers will find out how they voted due to the informal voting. EXHIBIT 15 COUNTIES AND ELECTIONS COVERED BY FEDERAL OBSERVERS (1966-74), VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 Sept. 11, 1968. Louisiana: Aug. 13, 1966. Dec. 16, 1967. Feb. 6, 1958 Apr. 9, 1968 Aug. 19, 1972. Sept. 20, 1972. Nov. 7, 1972. Mar. 23, 1974. Mississippi: June 7, 1966. Nov. 22, 1966.. Feb. 13, 1967. Feb. 27, 1967. 13 out of 67... 7 357 do... 7 382 .do.. 84 .do.. 98 .do.. 154 do.. 44 do.. 205 do. 198 .do.. 20 |