Peach Tree Times

A legal dispute concerning Georgia's 2021 congressional voting map has seen a significant development. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia has issued a stay in the case of Common Cause v. Raffensperger. This postpones the trial, originally scheduled for November 13, 2023, following the state defendants' decision not to seek a stay pending appeal in another challenge that found the current map violated the Voting Rights Act.

The ruling mandates that Georgia must draw new Congressional and state legislative maps by December 8, 2023. In response, the Georgia General Assembly is set to meet in a special session starting on November 29, 2023, to address this requirement.

Aunna Dennis, Executive Director of Common Cause Georgia, expressed optimism about the development: “While we were looking forward to our day in court to fight for Georgia’s voters that have been unconstitutionally discriminated against in the current congressional voting map, we are pleased that the state will be moving forward with drawing new maps ahead of the 2024 election cycle.” She urged legislators to create maps that empower Black voters and allow them representation through their chosen candidates.

The controversy began when lawmakers passed a congressional voting map in November 2021 with limited public input. Critics argue it disenfranchised Black voters by manipulating districts such as Georgia’s 6th, 13th, and 14th Congressional districts. A federal lawsuit was filed in January 2022 by Common Cause alongside other organizations and individuals. They claim these racially gerrymandered maps infringe upon the rights provided by the 14th Amendment.

Earlier this year on May 30, a hearing took place where a motion for summary judgment from Georgia’s Secretary of State was considered. However, on October 17, those motions were denied by a three-judge panel at Atlanta's division of U.S. District Court for Northern District of Georgia.

The outcome now hinges on newly drawn maps due later this year.