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J. To. COUNTY COID-11SSION IN AND FOR INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA. FROM: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE GIFFORD, FLORIDA, BRANCII. PETITION RE2UESTING VOLUNTARY CHANGE OF VOTING STRUCTURE COMES NOW the petitioner, NAACP, Gifford, Florida, Branch, by and through their undersigned Attorney, in filing this their pet- ition requesting a voluntary change of the Voting Structure in Indian River County, Respectfully Says: 1. That the Petitioner, Gifford Chapter of the NAACP, is a nonprofit organization, and represents the interests of minority groups in Indian River County, Florida. 2. That specifically, herein, petitioner represents minority citizens, taxpayers and electors of Indian River County, Florida. 3. That Rlack citizens, taxpayers and electors are being de- nipA t -'ha ric,114- to d++A nrnrP'Q1C and ernial nrntp.r.Hnn nf- the In as as guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, in view of the Voting Structure as it now exists in Indian River County, Florida. ° 4. That the Voting Structure, as it now exists, operates to provide non -representation by Blacks in Indian River County, Florida, and prevents Blacks from participating in the Political . r • process whereby they have been and will continue to be unable.to elect their choice of.representative in the County Government. And such a process', as it now exists, operates so as to minimize or cancel the Voting Power of Blacks in Indian River County, Florida. 5. That this cancellation of voting power and denial of the political process is evidenced by the political process leading to nomination and election in the past and present not being equally open to participation by the Black Community and that this -is shown by Blacks having little or no power in the selection of canidat:es and that no Blacks have over been elected to the 0 MAY 18 1977 v43