THE SOUTHERN TIMES

County Unit System (1917-1962)

The county unit system was established in 1917 by the Neil Primary Act for the purpose of political primaries. Under this system, the 8 most populated counties were each allotted 6 county unit votes, a total of 48 county unit votes. The next 30 most populated counties were each allotted 4 county unit votes, a total of 120 county unit votes. The other 121 counties were each allotted 2 county unit votes, a total of 242 county unit votes.

 

The county unit system impacted the result of both primary and general elections. Most significantly at the time, this system enabled rural counties to gain control of elections in Georgia by reducing the impact of developing urban areas. In addition, candidates for political offices were forced to contend for these rural county unit votes as such could easily equal and negate votes from urban counties. In numerous instances, candidates who may have received the majority of the popular vote were frequently defeated by other candidates who had received the largest amount of county unit votes. As a result of all of such, many were discontent with this system.

 

Certain citizens indicated that the system was unfair in that people were elected to office without a majority of the state’s popular vote. In response, supporters of the county unit system described how the system enabled small, less-populated counties to possess the same quantity of power and influence as larger, more populated counties. Eventually, in 1962, the county unit system was declared unconstitutional.

 

http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/government-politics/county-unit-system