Federal Court Orders Georgia to Redraw State Legislative District Maps That Dilute the Black Vote

Georgia lawmakers should redraw state legislative district maps after a federal courtroom discovered that they discriminated in opposition to Black voters on Thursday.

The choice was made in a criticism filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Georgia, and WilmerHale on behalf of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., sixth district of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and 4 Georgia voters.

They argued that the maps deny Black voters in Georgia an equal alternative to elect candidates of selection in violation of Part 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

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The act bars any state regulation or follow “which leads to a denial or abridgement of the appropriate of any citizen of the US to vote on account of race or coloration” and prohibits any redistricting plan the place minority teams “have much less alternative than different members of the voters to take part within the political course of and to elect representatives of their selection.”

The Georgia Common Meeting drew the maps in 2021 primarily based on 2022 U.S. Census information, which the plaintiffs argued confirmed progress within the state’s Black inhabitants. Nonetheless, lawmakers crafted district strains that diluted the Black vote, the group claimed. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp formally made the maps regulation on Dec. 30, 2021.

The courtroom dominated Thursday that by failing to attract two new Black districts within the state Senate and 5 new Black districts within the state Home, Georgia violated the Voting Rights Act. The federal courtroom additionally ordered the Common Meeting to attract new maps by Dec. 8, 2023.

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“This ruling is a victory for Black voters in Georgia, and for anybody who believes voting needs to be truthful. This choice confirms that Black voters had been illegally shut out of political alternatives within the state. The courtroom’s ruling is an important step in making certain that Black Georgians can take part within the political course of on equal phrases,” stated Sophia Lin Lakin, director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Venture.

Georgia attorneys can nonetheless enchantment the ruling. The transfer wouldn’t instantly affect voters as a result of there aren’t any statewide elections this yr.

“At this time’s choice charts a path to appropriate that grave injustice earlier than the 2024 election cycle. The Common Meeting ought to now transfer swiftly to enact a remedial map that pretty represents Black voters,” Rahul Garabadu, senior voting rights employees legal professional on the ACLU of Georgia.

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