What did the County Unit System established in 1917 aim to achieve?

The County Unit System, established in Georgia in 1917, was primarily designed to maintain the political power of rural areas at a time when urban populations were growing. By allocating electoral votes based on counties rather than individual votes, the system effectively favored less populated rural counties over the more populous urban ones. This mechanism aimed to prevent a shift of political power from rural to urban areas, ensuring that the interests of the less populated regions were preserved in the state's political landscape. Consequently, even as cities expanded and their populations increased, rural areas retained significant influence in elections, which aligned with the objectives of the system.

While attempting to enhance representation and possibly increase voter participation were considerations in broader electoral reforms, the main thrust of the County Unit System was a strategic response to demographic changes to protect rural dominance in Georgia's political system.