Tennessee Fayette County Board of County Commissioners Redistricting Challenge

Lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) against Fayette County, Tennessee and its board of county commissioners challenging the board’s 2021 redistricting plan under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Members of the board of county commissioners are elected from 19 single-member districts. In 2010, four Black commissioners were elected to the board. As of 2025, there are none. The DOJ alleges that this is because in 2011, the county began intentionally redrawing the districts to reduce Black representation and that under the current redistricting plan there are no majority-minority districts even though Black voters make up more than 25% of the county’s voting-age population. In 2021, the board ignored advice and recommendations from its own redistricting committee, which established a two majority-minority district minimum requirement during its deliberations, and an outside redistricting counsel who recommended a plan with three majority-minority districts. Despite this, the board adopted a plan with no majority-minority districts. The DOJ argues that the county intentionally discriminated against Black voters in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. It asks the court to block the 2021 redistricting plan and order the county to implement a new redistricting plan that allows Black voters to elect candidates of their choice. 

STATUS: The DOJ filed its complaint on Jan. 15, 2025. Fayette County has not responded yet.

Last updated: January 16, 2025 2:21 pm EST