The Kentucky and local branch of the NAACP is urging Hopkinsville City Council to vote against non-partisan local elections when they meet Tuesday night.
Final reading of the ordinance is on the agenda and it would maintain a primary in each ward and all 12 wards would still be represented on council.
NAACP Kentucky State Conference President Marcus Ray sent a letter to all members of council and to Mayor Wendell Lynch Sunday asking them to vote against the measure, citing four reasons.
First, the organization says the ordinance is being moved during a pandemic when it has not seen the “true light of public input and discussion.”
Secondly, the NAACP believes the intent of the ordinance is to impact the voting power and constitutional voting rights of black citizens of Hopkinsville.
Ray says Hopkinsville’s uniqueness and racial diversity should be considered and any action to dilute the power of the African American vote could be met with a legal challenge.
Lastly, Ray says the ordinance would deny the residents of a ward the candidate they most want to represent them—asserting it would have the effect of undoing what the voters state through the ballot box they prefer.
The NAACP says they are prepared to “stand with the African American citizens of Hopkinsville to ensure their rights are protected.”