New Political Maps in Georgia Approved by US Judge – JURIST

TL/DR –

A federal judge in Georgia has approved the state’s new political maps, despite accusations that the maps decrease the political power of the state’s black voters and violate the Voting Rights Act. The judge ruled that the state’s Republican-controlled legislature had adhered to an order to create additional districts with black majorities. However, critics note that the maps also maintain the Republican’s existing 9-5 advantage in the state’s U.S. congressional delegation and split a historically Democratic district.

Judge in Georgia Approves Controversial Political Maps

A federal judge in Georgia has validated the state’s newly revised political maps for the US Congress and state legislature, despite protests from civil rights organizations. The groups, challenging the maps, argued they undermine the influence of Black voters, breaching the Voting Rights Act.

Nevertheless, US District Judge Steve Jones ruled that the Republican-majority legislature complied with an October 26 order to include more majority-Black districts, overruling objections. Jones added that federal judges lack the constitutional authority to shift political power between the two leading parties.

Georgia’s Republican-led legislature endorsed the redrawn political maps, safeguarding their existing 9-5 advantage in the state’s US congressional delegation. Although the maps followed the mandate to create an additional Black majority district, they fragmented Congressional District 7, which has traditionally attracted Democratic voters from Black, Asian American, and Latino constituents.

Following the court’s decision, Congresswoman Lucy McBath (D-GA), currently representing Congressional District 7, publicized her plan to run for the new majority-Black district—Congressional District 6.

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