Marks said despite heavy primary turnout, voter 'suppression' still was prevalent
PETERSBURG — As the state Democratic party prepares to count the more than 26,000 ballots cast across the 4th Congressional District Tuesday, one of the four people on that ballot said the large turnout still reflected "a clear example of voter suppression" because the polling places were concentrated only in certain areas, and that is what caused the long lines.
Tavorise Marks, a Hopewell businessman and local civil-rights advocate who is considering a lawsuit to challenge the results of the firehouse primary, said on Facebook he witnessed "true grit and resolve of the American spirit" of voters waiting in those lines. However, he also saw instances where the long lines dissuaded people from voting and claimed to witness an elderly woman suffer a medical emergency because she didn't think she'd ”be waiting to vote that long," and had not eaten or taken her daily medication.
"Let’s be crystal clear. What we witnessed yesterday was a clear example of voter suppression," Marks wrote. "What we also witnessed yesterday was the heart of voters who were resolute enough to overcome voter suppression. But there are thousands of voters who were not able to overcome and their votes were suppressed. And the Democratic Party leadership and power players continue to remain quiet about it."
"I met voters in Brunswick who drive over 45 mins [sic] to vote. I met a couple who live in Dinwiddie who went to Petersburg to vote, but the lines were too long so they took the drive to Brunswick to vote, which had them in a car driving for over two hours just to cast their votes," Marks wrote. "Sadly I witnessed voters in Richmond who gave up and walked out of the voting line because 'the wait is too long and I have to get to work.'"
Marks closed his post by saying, "I will not be silent about it."
Marks said he plans legal action to challenge the results of the primary, either through his own suit or by joining one already filed by Richmond attorney Paul Goldman. Goldman's suit alleges that Virginia Democrats restricted equal voting access by scheduling the primary on a work day rather than a weekend, and put polling places in locations that would favor one candidate over the three others.
In the meantime, Virginia Democrats began the arduous task Wednesday morning of counting those more than 26,000 ballots cast in the firehouse primary. The count was set to begin at 10 a.m. in downtown Richmond, and a statement from the party said the count "has no definitive end time, and will continue until a nominee has emerged."
State Sen. Jennifer McClellan of Richmond is considered the frontrunner for the nomination. In addition to Marks, the ballot included state Sen. Joe Morrissey of Chesterfield County and former Petersburg city attorney Joe Preston.
The winner of the primary will face Republican Leon Benjamin in a Feb. 21 special election to fill the seat vacated by the death of Rep. Donald McEachin. McEachin, 61, died of complications from cancer Nov. 28, less than three weeks after winning re-election to a fourth term in Washington.
Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on Twitter at @BAtkinson_PI.
This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Democratic candidate still sees 'suppression' in primary voter turnout
