Ferguson Voters Turnout for Historic Election

Submitted by Pamela on Wed, 04/08/2015 - 13:12

In the wake of the shooting death of Michael Brown and the protests in the St. Louis region that followed, many pointed to the lack of minority representation in city government and law enforcement as a key problem facing Ferguson. Voter turnout in previous elections was extremely low, and there was only one person of color sitting on the Ferguson City Council.

Since August 2014, community groups have launched voter registration and engagement efforts. That hard work is already making an impact. On Tuesday, April 7, Ferguson voters headed to the polls in record numbers. Turnout for Tuesday’s election was around 30 percent, surpassing recent municipal elections in the city and nearly doubling the 16 percent turnout in St. Louis County.

For the first time in the majority black suburb’s history, three African Americans will sit on the six-member city council.


BILL GREENBLATT I UPI

Selecting a new city manager and determining how to address the many issues highlighted in the Justice Department’s scathing report on Ferguson top the new council’s to-do list.

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