A recent lawsuit has been filed against the outgoing Duval County Supervisor of Elections, Mike Hogan, alleging an unequal distribution of voting precincts throughout the county. Six registered voters in Duval County are claiming that this disparity violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment whereby no state shall “deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” This clause has been widely interpreted by the courts to guarantee equal treatment and prevent discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The case raises important questions about the fundamental right to vote and the need for equal access to voting opportunities for all citizens.
The lawsuit against the Duval County Supervisor of Elections alleges that there is a significant imbalance in the number of voting precincts across different city districts. According to the plaintiffs, some districts have almost twice as many voting precincts as others. District 4, for example, has 10 precincts, while District 10 has 19 precincts.
Attorney Jeff Childers, representing the plaintiffs, argues that this disparity undermines the principle of equal protection. The right to vote is a fundamental constitutional right, and any barriers that disproportionately affect certain groups or districts can infringe upon that right. The plaintiffs claim that the unequal distribution of voting precincts dilutes the voting power of residents in districts with fewer precincts, thus violating their equal protection under the law.
Mike Hogan was the Supervisor of Elections during this time of voting precinct disparity. The lawsuit was filed before Supervisor of Elections Elect, Jerry Holland, takes his office.
Jerry Holland will need to pick up this issue and he acknowledged the disparity in the number of voting precincts across districts and expressed a commitment to fix the issue. “It’s an easy fix,” he stated.
Holland plans to rectify the situation by striving for a more equitable distribution of voting precincts. While recognizing the challenges involved in finding suitable precincts, he aims to achieve an average of approximately 11 precincts per district. By regularly reviewing and updating the allocation of precincts, Holland hopes to ensure that all voters have equal opportunities to exercise their right to vote.
Eye will keep an Eye on this issue and report in as the precincts are redone.
