Federal Judge Rules Georgia's Congressional Map Violates Voting Rights Act, Orders Redraw

A federal judge ruled on Thursday that Georgia's congressional map was in violation of the Voting Rights Act and ordered a redraw of the map.

Georgia has become the latest Southern state to have its map struck down for allegedly discriminating against Black voters. The judge in the case ordered the state legislature to redraw the lines by early December.

Georgia's Congressional Map

(Photo : Win McNamee/Getty Images)
A federal judge has ruled that Georgia's congressional map was in violation of the Voting Rights Act and ordered the state to redraw the lines.

The ruling would most likely be appealed by Georgia Republicans and it could lead to the creation of an additional majority-Black district in the state. However, the immediate partisan effects of such a development are not clear.

In his decision, district court Judge Steve C. Jones said that Georgia had made great strides since 1965 toward equality in voting. However, he added that evidence before the court showed that the state has not yet reached the point where the political process has equal openness and equal opportunity for everyone.

The judge's lengthy opinion noted that Black voters' power had been diluted following extensive population growth in Georgia that has been disproportionately powered by Black residents. The remedy that Jones ordered should involve the creation of "an additional majority-Black congressional district in west-metro Atlanta," as per Politico.

Jones gave the GOP-controlled state legislature until Dec. 8 to enact a new map that would comply with the Voting Rights Act. This could be done by giving more power to Black voters in the state.

If the state is found to be unable or unwilling to comply with the order, the court will draw the lines itself. On Thursday, GOP Gov. Brian Kemp issued a proclamation that called the legislature into special session on Nov. 29 to handle redistricting.

Georgia's current delegation has nine Republicans and five Democrats following the latest round of redistricting. It represented a one-seat GOP gain compared to before the decennial redistricting process.

Supporting Black Voters

The federal judge's ruling is among several legal and political fights that are underway in nearly a dozen states. The situation could determine whether or not the GOP retains its narrow majority in the U.S. House after next year's elections, according to CNN.

Democratic lawmakers and voting rights groups immediately hailed Jones' ruling in the matter. The chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Georgia, U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, called the decision a "resounding victory" for democracy.

In a statement, Williams said that Republicans knew they could not win on their ideas alone so they resorted to redrawing the maps in their favor instead. She added that Jones' decision confirms what Georgia Democrats have already known, which is that the state's Republicans' attempts to hold power via voter suppression and racial gerrymandering will not stand.

The federal judge's ruling on the matter follows an eight-day September trial where the plaintiffs argued that Black voters are still fighting opposition from white voters. They said that the Black voters need federal help in order to get a fair shot. On the other hand, the state argued that court intervention on behalf of Black voters was not needed, said the Associated Press.