Memorandum on Fred D. Gray Election Challenge in Alabama

Press Release
October 31, 1966

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Press Releases, Volume 4. Memorandum on Fred D. Gray Election Challenge in Alabama, 1966. 1ef0f54a-b792-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/4b085854-e37b-441b-a270-a51cb3e16ef8/memorandum-on-fred-d-gray-election-challenge-in-alabama. Accessed November 23, 2025.

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10 Columbus Circle 
New York, N.Y. 10019 
JUdson 6-8397 

NAACP 

Legal Defense and Educational Fund 
PRESS RELEASE 
President 

ion. Francis E. Rivers 

October 31, 1966 

Director-Counsel 
Jack Greenberg 

MEMORANDUM 

TO: Working Press 

FROM: Jesse DeVore, Director of Public Information 

RE: Negro candidate in Alabama challenges illegalities in primary 
elections. Legal Defense Fund files motion to delay election 
of November 8, 1966. 

MONTGOMERY---A motion to enjoin election officials in Bullock County 
from holding any election on November 8, 1966 for the office of 
Representative from Alabama House District 31 was filed last week by 
the Legal Defense Fund attorneys. 

The motion, filed in behalf of Fred D. Gray, a Negro candidate for the 
office of State Representative, during the primary elections held on 
May 31, charges the plaintiff's opponents and the election officials in 
Bullock County for “encouraging and permitting" illegal procedures in 
the casting of ballots. 

A primary investigation conducted by the LDF attorneys has so far 
resulted in the analysis and study of two ballot boxes filled during 
the primary elections. 

Of the 490 ballots contained in those two boxes, at least 250 ballots, 
according to LDF attorneys, were cast "illegally." All of the “illegal 
ballots were cast for the white opponent of the plaintiff. 

LDF attorneys anticipate that a full analysis of some 20 boxes will be 
necessary before they could fully represent their case. This remaining 
analysis is expected to take at least two or three weeks. 

In view of this, the attorneys, in behalf of Mr. Gray, have requested 
the court to delay the election until a hearing on this case is conducted 
and a determination made by the court. 

LDF lawyers have in the alternative asked the court to order and enjcoi- 
the election officials of Bullock County from counting, declaring, a1 = 
certifying any results for the office of Representative until hearirc 
and decision on this case and such new primary election as may be 
needed is completed, 

Mr, Fred D, Gray, who is also a lawyer by profession, works as one of 
254 cooperating attorneys for the Legal Defense Fund, This network of 
cooperating attorneys now handles an estimated 90% of all civil rights 
cases throughout the nation. 

The attorneys for the Legal Defense Fund in this case are Solomon Seay 
of Montgomery, and Fred Wallace and Bobby Hill of New York City. 

=30= 

Jesse DeVore, Jr., Director of Public Information—Night Number 212 Rlverside 9-8487 Ss

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Memorandum on Fred D. Gray Election Challenge in Alabama

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