Last Tuesday, March 29th, William D. Smothers, publisher of Speakin’ Out News, received a phone call from Probate Judge Frank Barger asking for quotes to publish the voter’s list for the upcoming May election. After the cost was submitted, later that afternoon, Speakin’ Out News received an email addressing four items that Barger would need a response to. The following items asked to publish were a List of the Poll Workers, a List of the Voting location, a List of Madison Co. Voters, and the Supplemental List. Each estimate for each printed job was to be submitted back to Barger before the close of the business day. Speakin’ Out News’s price quote was $14,995.00 to publish and distribute all four list items.
On Wednesday, March 30th, the Madison County Commission awarded The Huntsville Times the job. WHNT-TV19 reported that Madison Commission Chairman Dale Strong found the proposed expenses for a secondary publication were unnecessary for people needing to check their voting locations and eligibility simply. “You go online and do it,” he said. “I can’t imagine how many trees we’re going to have to chop down to do this, but again we’re going to meet the federal law… But this is a pretty excessive expense to send a voter list out that I would probably guess less than one percent of the voters even look at the voter list.”
Speakin’ Out News obtained an email showing that The Huntsville Times gave a price of $66,000 to print all four listed items, serving 85 locations. Their total circulation is 37,300, reaching 9.6% of the 388,000 total population of Madison County, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. Smothers asked, “Why was the Huntsville Times allowed to give one price and not break down quotes as Speakin’ Out News was requested to do, and out of the 37,300 readers, how many are Black? How many locations are there in county commission district 6 and city district 1”?
According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the Black population of Madison County is 92,100, and it makes up 23.7% of the 388,000 total population of Madison County. Speakin’ Out News’ total market circulation reaches 28,956 readers every week. The 42-year-old, family-owned newspaper serves Huntsville and North Alabama as the leading African-American newspaper. In addition, the local community newspaper offers both print and digital formats of the newspaper, boasting 33,129 weekly readers, reaching 36% of the Black population in Madison County. Speakin’ Out News has 52 locations, including Black churches, higher education institutions such as Alabama A&M University, Drake State Community College, Oakwood University, barbershops and salons, recreation centers, restaurants, etc.
Smothers said, “I was very disappointed in several areas. First, it is a disservice, and it disproportionately impacts the Black voters of Madison County and other voters in general. Secondly, using a small minimal cost expense of $14,995.00 to expand the voter’s awareness is justifiable. We want our citizens to be informed too, and by not telling the Black community is disenfranchising and speaks of voters’ suppression.”
After reading the WHNT-TV19 article, Smothers commented on Dale Strong’s comment, “We cannot assume that all readers will utilize the internet. Some readers may not know how to go online and check their voting status properly, no matter the newspaper subscription.” Smothers continued, “Furthermore, it’s a state law to print the voter’s list. The state will reimburse the county half of its paid expenses to publish the county’s voter lists. So, for a minimal cost of only $7,497.50, Madison County Black voters, who represent about 36% of our readers, will not be informed.”
However, this is not the first time the Speakin’ Out News has published the voter’s list. The newspaper had the opportunity to publish the voter’s list five times in past elections 2020, 2016, 2012, 2008, and 2004. By acquiring its second-class periodical status, Speakin’ Out News saved the county thousands of taxpayer’s dollars in publishing the voter’s list, which was once solely awarded to The Huntsville Times for past decades.
Minority House Leader Anthony Daniels, District 53 made a statement regarding usage of another newspaper. “There has been much discussion and debate regarding the requirements to publish election voting lists. Currently, in Madison County, The Judge of Probate is seeking a determination from the Commission on expenses related to the publication of required election notifications. I support Commissioner Edwards’ request that the Judge of Probate publish election notices in an additional publication. This would ensure that the information is accessible and received by communities of interest as it has been done previously for many years. This is important for people who have come to rely on Speakin’ Out News for their information for the last 42 years. As public servants, it is our responsibility to ensure that the public is informed about their voter registration status. We should take every opportunity to make it easier for people to determine their voter registration status and to make the entire process of voting easier and more accessible to everyone. I hope the Commission reevaluates the decision to only utilize one publication and include Speakin’ Out News, due to its importance to communities of interest in Madison County.”
“The Black community reads Speakin’ Out News. We are a trusted news source,” Smothers stated. “I wish that ALL Madison County newspapers that meet the Alabama Codes 6-8-60 and 6-8-62 criteria could be allowed to print the voter’s list to reach their audience; it would be only fair. It would be the betterment of the community to have informed citizens.”
