Filed Date: July 27, 2015
Closed Date: Dec. 31, 2018
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This case concerned voter registration list maintenance obligations. On July 27, 2015, the American Civil Rights Union (“ACRU”), represented by itself, the Public Interest Legal Foundation, and private counsel, filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi against the Clarke County, Mississippi Election Commission (the “Election Commission”) under Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), 52 U.S.C. § 20507.
The ACRU alleged that the Election Commission violated Section 8 of the NVRA by failing to make reasonable efforts to conduct voter list maintenance programs in elections for federal office and by failing to produce records and data related to those efforts. Specifically, the ACRU alleged that the Election Commission conducted list maintenance that temporarily allowed the voter rolls to include more people registered than there were citizens of voting age in Clarke County. The ACRU sought injunctive relief commanding the Election Commission to permit inspections of election records and requiring it to conduct and execute effective voter list maintenance programs in a manner consistent with federal law. The case was assigned to District Judge Keith Starrett.
The parties negotiated and agreed to entry of a Consent Decree, which was entered on November 25, 2015. The Consent Decree required that the Election Commission, among other things: (1) remove from the list of eligible voters any registrant who has been positively identified as being deceased and to provide such data in concise summary form, and (2) conduct countywide mailing to all active and inactive registrants for list maintenance purposes. The Consent Decree remained in effect until December 31, 2018.
Summary Authors
Annefloor de Groot (11/9/2023)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/14434019/parties/american-civil-rights-union-v-clarke-county-mississippi-election/
Starrett, Keith (Mississippi)
Ross, H. Henry (Mississippi)
Norris, Richard Gerald (Mississippi)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/14434019/american-civil-rights-union-v-clarke-county-mississippi-election/
Last updated Aug. 10, 2025, 10:15 p.m.
State / Territory: Mississippi
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project
Key Dates
Filing Date: July 27, 2015
Closing Date: Dec. 31, 2018
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
American Civil Rights Union
Plaintiff Type(s):
Non-profit NON-religious organization
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Clarke County, Mississippi Election Commission (Clarke), County
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Content of Injunction:
Order Duration: 2015 - 2018
Issues
Voting: