After which year did Georgians participate in a free election for state officers following a dispute over seating black representatives?

Georgians participated in a free election for state officers in 1872 following a period of significant political turmoil and conflict over the representation of formerly enslaved African Americans. This year marked the aftermath of the Reconstruction era, during which there was intense debate regarding the political rights of black representatives.

The election of 1872 allowed for the first full participation of black voters and candidates in Georgia's electoral process, following federal interventions to restore order and ensure civil rights in the South. This election was pivotal, as it represented a step towards inclusivity and the realization of democratic principles that had been denied to black citizens prior to this period.

In contrast, other options reflect earlier or later years when the political landscape was either dominated by the previous system of disenfranchisement or when the impact of Reconstruction was waning, leading to the eventual establishment of Jim Crow laws which disenfranchised black voters again.