Redistricting Resources

Redistricting Resources

Congressional districts and government legislative bodies should be apportioned substantially on population. We oppose partisan and racial gerrymandering that strips rights away from voters.

In 2021, a straight party-line vote of 96 yeas and 68 nays approved SB 2EX to reapportion Georgia’s Congressional districts and send the bill to the governor for signature into law. You can see the new maps in detail here, where you can look at the old maps and new maps.

At least 5 lawsuits based on violation of the Voting Rights Act and/or the 14th amendment have been filed as a result of the passage of SB 2EX to reapportion Georgia’s Congressional districts. 3 of these suits were taken up by U.S. District Judge Jones in February; the other 2 will probably not be heard until 2023. Judge Jones issued a ruling on the 3 of those lawsuits (Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity v. Raffensberger, Grant, et. al. v. Raffensberger, and Pendergrass v. Raffenberger) on February 28, 2022.

Judge Jones stated that while the plaintiffs are likely to prevail on the merits of their cases, he would not issue an injunction to prevent the maps from being used in the upcoming 2022 election. He said that it was too close to the election.

Three of the five court challenges on the 2021 congressional and general assembly district maps go to trial on September 5, 2023 (the other two cases are scheduled to start on November 13, 2023).  Fair Districts GA is recruiting a court observer corp to attend the trial and report back high-level summaries each day.  To learn more, or to sign up to observe, please click here for info. 

Due to the delayed census and special legislative session, local redistricting is taking place during the regular 2022 legislative session. Local redistricting involves redrawing the district maps for local governments including county commissions, school boards and municipalities. For additional information on local redistricting, including actions you can take, see Fair Districts GA’s Local Redistricting Tool Kit.

On October 26, 2023, Judge Steve Jones of Federal District Court ruled that Georgia’s 2021 district maps for Congress and State Legislature violate the Voting Rights Act by preventing black voters from electing candidates of their choice. His ruling ordered the State of Georgia to enact new maps by December 8, 2023. The Georgia General Assembly met in special session starting November 29 to consider new maps. Georgia’s Legislature has given final approval for a new congressional redistricting map.

You can find more information about redistricting in the resources below: