TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — State Agriculture Commissioner John
McMillan wants the Justice Department to investigate possible voting
irregularities in Uniontown.
The commissioner, the governor and the state auditor each
appoint one member of the three-person county boards of voting registrars,
including in Perry County, where Uniontown in located.
The Tuscaloosa News reports (http://bit.ly/N5zscn )
that Tuesday's vote has raised questions because of unusual turnout figures.
More people are registered to vote than live in the town of roughly 1,775
people. The 2010 U.S. Census found there were 1,140 residents 18 years or older
in Uniontown. But on Tuesday, 1,431 people voted for mayor and just under that
figure cast votes in the council races.
In another potential irregularity, a total of 570 absentee
ballots were cast, or nearly 40 percent of the vote. The statewide average for
absentee ballots in Alabama is
about 5 percent.
"It's obvious something fishy is going on with absentee
ballots," McMillan said Friday.
McMillan said federal poll observers monitored municipal
elections in Lanett, Phenix City and Reform for potential racial discrimination
at the ballot box.
"They should inject themselves in something like
this," McMillan said. "I'd be happy to sign anything, a letter, to
get them involved in Uniontown."
Justice Department spokesman Mitchell Rivard declined to
comment on the Uniontown vote.
On Thursday, Attorney General Luther Strange's office said it
was examining the election.
Perry County Commissioner Albert Turner Jr. said the large
turnout may have been caused by Uniontown voters who wanted to back incumbent
Mayor Jamaal Hunter and council members for getting a grant to fix the town's
chronic sewer system problems.
Other factors could also account for some of the discrepancy.
For example, it's possible the Census undercounted Uniontown's population.
There may be a lag between when people move out of the town and when voting
officials strike their names from the voter rolls.
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