Georgia Lawmakers Aim to Tackle Redistricting in Special Session
Georgia lawmakers are gearing up for a special session starting Wednesday as they face pressure to bring their voting districts in line with federal court orders. The session comes hot on the heels of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld the 1964 Voting Rights Act, allowing Black voters to challenge discriminatory district maps.
House Republicans have released a map that would create five more majority-Black districts that are likely to be won by Democrats. However, the plan would also pair three sets of Democratic incumbents, meaning the party would lose three of its members post-2024 elections.
Senate Republicans have also proposed a map that would create two additional Black-majority districts, keeping their majority in the chamber intact. Meanwhile, a new congressional map is still in the works, with a federal court order requiring the creation of one new Black-majority seat.
The fight over district lines comes after a 2020 ruling that found the current maps drawn by Republicans illegally diluted Black votes. The ruling concluded that despite significant Black population growth in the state over the previous decade, there was no increase in the number of Black-majority districts.
With the Supreme Court’s decision paving the way for greater representation for minority voters, Democrats are challenging Republicans’ control over the redistricting process. Given that Black voters in Georgia overwhelmingly lean towards Democrats, the creation of new majority-Black districts is expected to boost the party.
However, Republican dominance in the redistricting process suggests that any gains made by Democrats may be short-lived. Lawmakers have released detailed maps outlining the creation of new Black-majority districts, setting the stage for a contentious battle over the future of Georgia’s voting districts.
Georgia’s political landscape is set for a major upheaval, with the possibility of new districts being in place by 2024. For now, all eyes will be on the outcome of the special legislative session as Georgia lawmakers attempt to navigate the complex terrain of redistricting and comply with federal court orders.