lincoln park ga. louis brook 87 walk cast vote neighborhood poll place georgia predominantly black lincoln park neighborhood five decades year brook say vote presidential election first time remember local officials move poll station miles km away part plan cut number vote sit upson county get drive far walk say brook black retire mill worker long-time democratic party supporter say know vote mail know anyone give ride reuters survey find local governments nearly dozen mostly republican-dominated counties georgia adopt plan reduce number vote station cite cost save efficiency seven counties african-americans traditionally back democrats comprise least quarter population several counties change disproportionately affect black voters least three counties georgia drop consolidation plan public pressure poll place cutbacks rise across country include democratic-run areas south history racial discrimination make region focus concern vote right advocate activists see vote place reductions another front fight republican-sponsored statewide vote laws strict id requirements disproportionately affect minority poor voters tend vote democratic party several recently strike court rule design hind minority vote history state use different strategies cut vote minority communities say leah aden senior counsel national association advancement color people legal defense education fund hogwash say robert haney chairman upson county board elections deny race factor board decision nobody try keep anybody vote say haney add officials would send ballot home anyone need say cut poll sit nine four design increase efficiency close low-turnout sit save 20,000 nov. election first presidential contest since supreme court rule 2013 georgia part 14 state history racial discrimination long need federal approval election law change like poll place consolidations since court rule reuters survey find two dozen local governments eight state implement new cut poll place two thirds meet public opposition four state arizona georgia florida north carolina could election battlegrounds fight white house control u.s. senate part story vote south say willie williams black small business owner daphne alabama poll station cut two five last month municipal elections objections black voters williams still keep father receipt poll tax tax black south pay qualify vote civil right laws 1960s eliminate say reduction another tool tool kit shave minority vote daphne city officials deny racial motivation say change mean improve safety create good access park voters still isela gutierrez research director liberal group democracy north carolina say effect cutbacks wide range elections board lie say locations low turnout make good administrative sense close impact disastrous numerous academic study find people less likely vote farther must travel long must wait line become likely few vote sit change individually may affect small number voters aggregate across country large number voters say danielle lang vote right counsel campaign legal center washington-based vote right campaign finance group issue gain prominence march primary arizona maricopa county 30 percent residents hispanic decision slash poll place leave voters line five hours republican county officials say misjudge turnout georgia epicenter efforts reduce poll place since supreme court decision state back democrat presidential election since 1992 poll show republican donald trump hillary clinton close battle presidency could decide turnout minority voters want restrict voter turnout minority disadvantage communities good way move poll place somewhere get say stacey abrams democratic leader georgia state legislature hans von spakovsky senior legal fellow conservative heritage foundation say race unfairly insert debate poll place change election officials make adjustments base change ways people vote say reuters analysis use voter registration list 2012 2016 find least two georgia counties change disproportionately affect black consolidation plan macon-bibb county close six poll place black-majority neighborhoods two white majority areas mcduffie county decision eliminate three poll place mean two-thirds county black voters one-third white voters vote one location change little impact minority voters georgia lumpkin county example black percent population officials consolidate seven poll locations one make county compliant federal disability laws vote right group several state try form patchwork network track change well publicize fight back necessary threats lawsuits petition drive complaints federal officials upson county haney say elections board drop proposal close poll site heavily black salem sparsely populate rural area residents point hardship travel extra 10 miles 16 km lincoln park site 230 voters cast ballot person election day 2012 easily combine poll place center nearby town thomaston say kay king african-american member elections board upson county one vote vote site closure say know mean lincoln park residents would able vote walk store walk church transportation get something like make want throw hand say poll place become battleground u.s. vote right fight