Savannah Standard

A federal judge's rejection of Georgia's redistricting maps has prompted Governor Brian Kemp to call a special legislative session in response to concerns that the maps violated the Voting Rights Act. The decision impacts Georgia's upcoming elections, with new maps to be created to address the issue.

A federal judge has rejected Georgia's Republican-drawn congressional and legislative redistricting maps from 2021, ordering the creation of new maps for the upcoming elections. The judge cited violations of the Voting Rights Act that limited Black Georgians' political participation. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued an executive order to convene a special legislative session starting on November 29.

In a proclamation issued by the Governor, Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp has called a special session of the state's General Assembly. During this session, scheduled for November 29, 2023, the Assembly will focus on specific tasks, including redrawing districts for the State Senate, State House of Representatives, and the U.S. House of Representatives. They will also address local laws to prevent undue hardship or public function impairment, ratify executive orders suspending certain fuel taxes during an inflation-related State of Emergency, and confirm appointments made by the Governor since the regular session adjourned.

The Georgia Capitol Beat reported that Judge Steve Jones, in a 516-page ruling, supported claims from civil rights and voting rights groups that Georgia's redistricting maps violated the Voting Rights Act by limiting the political participation of Black Georgians in certain areas. Despite the state's overall progress in expanding opportunities for Black voters, the judge noted disparities in specific regions, with the 2020 Census highlighting that although Georgia's population growth was driven by minorities, the number of majority Black congressional and legislative districts remained the same.

The Georgia Capitol Beat further reported that Republicans maintained they followed legal procedures when redrawing maps post-2020 Census. A Republican voter mobilization group, led by former GOP U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, expressed disappointment with the court's ruling, characterizing it as expected and alleging that liberal activists are attempting to influence the upcoming elections. They anticipate a successful appeal and hope to dismiss any perceived partisan interference in Georgia's 2024 legislative and congressional races.

According to the Georgia Recorder, Judge Jones expressed confidence in lawmakers' ability to create new maps, citing their access to an experienced cartographer and prior notice of the potential need for changes. He had previously acknowledged the plaintiffs' likelihood of success in establishing new majority Black districts but refrained from altering the maps close to the midterm election.