On October 26, 2023, a federal judge ordered Georgia to redraw its legislative maps, citing that the current maps dilute the voting power of racial minorities, particularly African Americans. The ruling came after a lawsuit was filed by several civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), who argued that the maps were racially gerrymandered to favor Republicans.
The judge's decision was based on the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibits voting practices or procedures that discriminate on the basis of race, color, or membership in one of the language minority groups. The judge stated that the current maps violate Section 2 of the Act, which prohibits voting practices or procedures that discriminate on the basis of race, color, or membership in one of the language minority groups.
The ruling requires Georgia to redraw its maps before the next election cycle. The state's Republican leadership, who oversaw the original redistricting process, expressed disappointment with the ruling and indicated they plan to appeal. The plaintiffs, on the other hand, hailed the decision as a victory for voting rights.
The case is part of a broader national debate over gerrymandering and voting rights. Redistricting, the process of redrawing electoral district boundaries, is typically done every 10 years following the census. Critics argue that the process can be manipulated to favor one political party over another, a practice known as gerrymandering.