Ellis Arnall - Governor

Governor

Actions undertaken by Governor Eugene Talmadge's had caused the state's colleges to lose accreditation. Arnall unseated Talmadge in the 1942 primay, 174,757 (57.7 percent) to 128,394 (42.4 percent). Without Republican opposition, Arnall hence became the youngest governor then serving in the United States.

Arnall obtained the repeal of the poll tax, rarification in 1945 of a new state constitution, and a state employee merit system. He also retired the Georgia state debt. When young men were drafted into the armed forces during World War II, Arnall argued that youths old enough to fight in war should be able to vote for their country's leadership. He succeeded in lowering the voting age to eighteen more than two decades before the 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution implemented that change nationally. Georgia thus became the first state to grant the franchise to 18-year olds. Arnall also removed the prison system under the governor's control. He established a board of corrections to oversee state prisons and a pardon and parole board to handle such requests. He removed the University of Georgia from political machinations, and he led efforts to prevent a governor from exercising dictatorial powers, as opponents of Governor Eugene Talmadge had alleged occurred during that administration. Arnall's reforms won him attention from the national press.