#Georgia’s #Voting Maps Are Struck Down
#Republicans in the state violated a landmark #CivilRights #law in drawing maps that diluted the power of #Black #voters, a federal judge in #Atlanta ruled on Thurs, ordering that new maps must be drawn in time for the #2024Election.
#Gerrymandering #SouthernStrategy #Vote
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/26/us/politics/georgia-voting-maps.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Judge Steve Jones of the Northern District of #Georgia demanded that the state’s legislature move swiftly to sketch out congressional & General Assembly districts that provide an #equitable level of #representation for Black residents, who make up >⅓ of the state’s population.
In the ruling, Judge Jones wrote that the court “will not allow another election cycle on redistricting plans” that had been found to be #unlawful.
Gov #BrianKemp, a #Republican, responded on by calling a special session of the #Georgia Gen Assembly that will begin on Nov29, giving lawmakers 10 days to meet a Dec8 deadline.
The timeline, Judge Jones wrote, ensures that “if an acceptable remedy is not produced, there will be time for the court to fashion one.”
#GA is one of several #Southern states where #Republicans are defending #CongressionalMaps that fed judges have said appear to #discriminate against #Black voters.
#Republican ofcls assailed the ruling; Josh McKoon, the state party chair, described it in a statement as a “naked power grab.”
“It is simply outrageous that one far-left federal judge is invalidating the will of the elected representatives of the people of #Georgia,” he said, “who drew fair maps in conformity w/longstanding legal principles.”
(yeah, #racist principles)
Nonilex