Georgia enacted new congressional districts on Dec. 30, 2021, when Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed a proposal approved by the legislature into law. Georgia was apportioned 14 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, the same number it received after the 2010 census. This map will take effect for Georgia’s 2022 congressional elections.
On Nov. 19, 2021, the Georgia State Senate passed the map in a 32-21 vote, which the House then approved on Nov. 22 in a 96-68 vote. The proposal was first released on Nov. 17.
When the legislature originally passed the map, the Associated Press’ Jeff Amy wrote that it would shift Republicans’ current 8-6 majority to a likely 9-5 Republican majority.
Two lawsuits have alleged racial gerrymandering. Marina Jenkins with the National Democratic Redistricting Committee’s National Redistricting Foundation said, “The congressional map signed into law by Gov. Brain Kemp is a shameless power grab that cheats Black voters out of proper representation.”
Earlier in the process, House Speaker David Ralston (R) said, “[W]e have released a proposed map that reflects Georgia’s growing, diverse population, respects jurisdictional lines and communities of interest, and conforms to applicable legal standards including the Voting Rights Act.”
As of Jan. 3, 24 states have adopted new congressional maps, two have enacted maps that have not yet gone into effect, six states were apportioned one congressional district (so no congressional redistricting is required), and 18 states have not yet adopted new congressional maps. As of Jan. 3 in 2012, 31 states had enacted congressional redistricting plans.
States have completed congressional redistricting for 274 of the 435 seats (63.0%) in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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