Letter to the Editor
The Power Grab!
Desha County Republican Election Commissioners have joined the national movement to grab power through voter suppression. On Wednesday, September 7, 2022 the Election Commission met in the Dumas, AR Library and voted to close the Union Chapel Church polling site in McGehee, AR. Union Chapel Church located at 103 Meadow Road, McGehee, AR is a place of worship in the predominantly black neighborhood and has been a voting site since before 2012. Voters who use Union Chapel asked for a meeting with the Election Commission which is made up of three persons, two for the political party in power (Republican) and one from the minority party (Democrats). The Democratic Commissioner was the only one choosing to meet with Desha County residents at McGehee Chapel Church on Monday, September 13th.
The Democratic Commissioner said that he initially voted to close Union Chapel but has since asked for a meeting with the Republicans as mis-information was shared at the time of the vote has emerged. It was also made public that the Commission did not give written notification to Union Chapel Church prior to the vote to close that site. Union Chapel was used for voting in the 2022 May Primary.
This closure of a voting site is part of the overall Republican agenda to suppress the vote and grab power at any cost. Voters who use Union Chapel have sent letters to the State Election Commission and are waiting for a response.
Alyce Love
Concerned Voter of Desha County
