A federal judge on Thursday ruled Georgia must draw new congressional and state legislative maps before the 2024 election.
The General Assembly’s Republican majorities drew maps based on the 2020 census, and civil rights groups challenged the map, arguing the lines dilute the voting power of black voters through racial gerrymandering.
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The court sided with plaintiffs in three lawsuits against Georgia’s maps, declaring the Republican-drawn maps from 2021 violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and must be redrawn by Dec. 8.
In a 516-page order, U.S. District Judge Steve Jones wrote that the court “recognizes that Plaintiffs and other Black voters in Georgia whose voting rights have been injured by the violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act have suffered significant harm. Those citizens are entitled to vote as soon as possible for their representatives under a lawful apportionment plan.”
“Therefore, the Court will require that new legislative maps be drawn forthwith to remedy the Section 2 violation,” the order reads.
According to the 2020 census, Georgia’s black population during the last decade increased by 13%, while the white population decreased by 1%.
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The order could affect the 2024 elections, potentially adding more black representatives. Last year, Republicans kept control of the Georgia House and Senate, holding a 222-212 majority. The court said the state engaged in racial gerrymandering and now must create more majority-black districts.
“The Court reiterates that Georgia has made great strides since 1965 towards equality in voting,” Jones wrote. “However, the evidence before this Court shows that Georgia has not reached the point where the political process has equal openness and equal opportunity for everyone. Accordingly, the Court issues this Order to ensure that Georgia continues to move toward equal openness and equal opportunity for everyone to participate in the electoral system.”