Gerrymandering/Redistricting

“The new maps—drawn unfairly and without transparency failed to fairly represent Black voters, as ordered by the court,” said Aunna Dennis, Executive Director of Common Cause Georgia

As the eyes of the nation again turn to Georgia to watch the redrawing of redistricting maps, lets take a look at the impacts of redistricting during our 2023 legislative session.

ATLANTA — A three-judge panel for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia issued a stay in Common Cause v. Raffensperger, the federal court challenge of Georgia’s 2021 congressional voting map. The trial set to begin on November 13, 2023 has been postponed in light of the state defendants’ decision to not seek a stay pending appeal of a separate challenge to the maps that resulted in a court ruling that found that map in violation of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). That ruling ordered the Georgia Legislature to draw new Congressional and state legislative voting maps by December 8, 2023. The Georgia General Assembly will convene in a special session beginning November 29, 2023 to consider new voting maps. 

A three-judge panel for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia is allowing a case challenging Georgia’s racially gerrymandered congressional district map to move forward. The case, brought by several Georgia voters, Common Cause Georgia and the League of Women Voters of Georgia will go to trial in November.

New poll on redistricting shows Georgians want a non-partisan voting map process, and voting maps that reflect diversity.

There's growing support in Congress for democracy reform with a 70% increase in members with perfect scores on Common Cause's 2022 Democracy Scorecard.