The Latest: County ends contract with election consultant

ATLANTA – The Latest on a proposal to close seven of nine polling places in a rural Georgia county (all times local):

1:45 p.m.

Officials have fired a consultant after widespread opposition erupted over a proposal to close most polling places in a predominantly black Georgia county.

In a letter obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, Randolph County lawyer Tommy Coleman ended the county’s contract with consultant Mike Malone. Coleman also says in the letter sent Wednesday that he was enclosing a check for about $2,200 for fees invoiced by Malone.

The elections board of Randolph County is considering eliminating seven of nine polling places.

County officials say the polling places don’t comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. But critics raised questions about the timing, coming just months before a hotly contested race in which Democrat Stacey Abrams is seeking to become Georgia’s first black governor.

The board is expected to vote on the issue Friday.

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11:40 a.m.

Leaders from the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus are urging officials in a predominantly black rural county not to move forward with a plan to close 75 per cent of their polling places.

Democratic Rep. Sandra Scott of Rex, Georgia, said the closures would disenfranchise black voters and echo a past era of institutionalized racial discrimination.

The elections board of Randolph County is considering eliminating seven of nine polling places.

County officials say the polling places don’t comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. But opponents raised questions about the timing, coming just months before a hotly contested race in which Democrat Stacey Abrams is seeking to become Georgia’s first black governor.

The board is expected to vote on the issue Friday. The county is located near the Alabama border.