"It's time for Blaine County to move on.

Four years ago the federal government sued the county over its county election system, saying the at-large voting there discriminated against Native Americans.

Two years later a federal judge agreed, ruling that the county violated the Voting Rights Act. He ordered commissioners to implement a new system.

The county did so, but still appealed the judge's ruling.

This week a unanimous three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the original judge's ruling.

Enough time and energy has gone into this issue. Surely there are more pressing problems to be addressed."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Blaine County should let election system go (The Great Falls Tribune 4/9)

Get the Decision:
US v. BLAINE COUNTY (April 7, 2004)

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