COURT STRIKES DOWN GEORGIA'S COUNTY UNIT VOTING SYSTEM
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On March 18, 1963, the United States Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional Georgia's "county unit" voting system which was "unfairly weighed to maximize votes from largely white rural areas and to dilute votes from urban areas with minority populations."
The 8 to 1 decision of the High Court, which codified the concept of "one person, one vote," ruled that Georgia's voting system was in violation of the 14th Amendment granting "equal protection under the law."
The case challenging Georgia's voting system (Gray v. Sanders, 1963) was filed by Fulton County voter James Sanders.
Justice William O. Douglas* wrote...
"The conception of political equality from the Declaration of Independence to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, to the 15th, 17th and 19th amendments can only mean one thing--one person, one vote."
*William Orville Douglas (1898-1980) was born in Maine Township, Minnesota & graduated from Columbia Law School in 1925. WOD served as chairman of the Securities & Exchange Commission before being appointed to the Supreme Court by FDR. WOD became the longest serving justice on the SC (1939-1975) at 36 years + 211 days.
SOURCES
"Gray v. Sanders (1963), by Dan T. Coenen, National Georgia Encyclopedia, www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/
"Supreme Court Establishes 'One Person, One Vote' as law, March 18, 1963", History Commons, www.historycommons.org/
Justice William O. Douglas
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On March 18, 1963, the United States Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional Georgia's "county unit" voting system which was "unfairly weighed to maximize votes from largely white rural areas and to dilute votes from urban areas with minority populations."
The 8 to 1 decision of the High Court, which codified the concept of "one person, one vote," ruled that Georgia's voting system was in violation of the 14th Amendment granting "equal protection under the law."
The case challenging Georgia's voting system (Gray v. Sanders, 1963) was filed by Fulton County voter James Sanders.
Justice William O. Douglas* wrote...
"The conception of political equality from the Declaration of Independence to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, to the 15th, 17th and 19th amendments can only mean one thing--one person, one vote."
*William Orville Douglas (1898-1980) was born in Maine Township, Minnesota & graduated from Columbia Law School in 1925. WOD served as chairman of the Securities & Exchange Commission before being appointed to the Supreme Court by FDR. WOD became the longest serving justice on the SC (1939-1975) at 36 years + 211 days.
SOURCES
"Gray v. Sanders (1963), by Dan T. Coenen, National Georgia Encyclopedia, www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/
"Supreme Court Establishes 'One Person, One Vote' as law, March 18, 1963", History Commons, www.historycommons.org/
Justice William O. Douglas
