The Nation - News from May 31, 1988

Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy halted a Georgia school bond election scheduled today, granting an injunction sought by five black voters who argued that the election might violate the Voting Rights Act. Kennedy’s ruling affects a Bibb County election that had originally been set for the ballot on March 8, or Super Tuesday, but the county school board decided in January to change the balloting date to May 31. The five black voters sued, arguing the March 8 date was changed because of a desire by the board to avoid a date when black turnout was expected to be high. The five also said the election had not been cleared with the Justice Department, which oversees enforcement of the Voting Rights Act. Last Friday, a three-judge appeals court panel refused the voters’ injunction request. Kennedy’s order delayed the election until the case can be heard by the full Supreme Court.