(The Center Square) — Georgia lawmakers signed off on revised state legislative maps in response to a federal court order, and one group said it is ready to take the state to court again.
The state House passed revised Senate district maps, Senate Bill 1EX, by a 98-71 vote, while the state Senate passed revised House district maps, House Bill 1EX, by a 32-21 vote.
The updated maps head to Republican Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature.
“We are reviewing the state legislative maps that were passed and are disappointed that the General Assembly chose to not fully comply with Judge Jones’ order,” the ACLU of Georgia said in a statement. “We plan to address this non-compliance in court.”
Lawmakers needed to redraw their maps after U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones said they violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and weakened the strength of Black voters. Jones set a Friday deadline for lawmakers to pass updated maps.
Unsurprisingly, reaction to the maps fell along party lines, with Republicans saying they comply with federal law and Democrats saying they do not.
“Time and time again, Georgia Republicans turn to racial gerrymandering and voter suppression to preserve their power at all costs,” Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee Communications Director Abhi Rahman said in a statement. “Even when presented with a federal court mandate to draw fair maps, the Georgia GOP has failed again to ensure fair representation for Black voters — finding yet another way to dilute their power.”
In their closing remarks on Tuesday, state senators rejected claims that the maps are unfair.
“I don’t think we want to be in a position where we’re required to create the exact number of districts, proportionally, to each of the many races we have in this [state],” state Sen. Bill Cowsert, R-Athens, said during the debate. “…That is pure racial politics, and I urge you once more: Let’s get beyond it.
“The law backs this map; the facts [back] this map,” Cowsert added. “Any opposition to it is simply yelling louder, thumping the table louder, trying to gain partisan advantage. That’s not what we’re here for. This map retains the exact same partisan split that we had elected in 2021. It does not seek partisan advantage; it complies with the law, and it’s fair to all Georgians.”
On Tuesday, the Senate also voted 32-22 in favor of revised congressional districts, Senate Bill 3EX, sending the measure to the House for consideration. The revised districts ostensibly maintain the 9-5 Republican edge in the U.S. House.
Unrelated to redistricting, the state Senate voted 52-2 to pass House Resolution 3EX, which the state House previously approved and codifies Kemp’s previous suspension of the motor fuel tax.
