Bayou La Batre, Alabama

The city of Bayou La Batre, Alabama, is a fishing village of about 2,754 residents, with about one-third made up of Asian-fishermen and their families, many of whom have lived there since the Vietnam War. During the 2004 elections, Phuong Tan Huynh, an Asian candidate, ran for City Council. During the city's primary contest, supporters of a white incumbent on the City Council challenged Asian-American voters at the polls as part of a concerted effort to intimidate supporters of the Asian candidate. The challenges, which are permitted under state law, included complaints that the voters weren't U.S. citizens or city residents, or that they had felony convictions. Challenged voters are required to complete a paper ballot and a registered voter must vouch for their ballot. The Department of Justice, pursuant to their mandate under the Voting Rights Act, investigated the allegations of racially targeted challenges. This investigation resulted in the challengers not being permitted to interfere in the general election. The first Asian-American member of the town's City Council was ultimately elected.