Georgia lawmakers table redistricting in special session
Georgia lawmakers reject 2028 redistricting talks
A surprise announcement at the Georgia State Capitol has completely disrupted the legislative agenda after Republican leaders blocked scheduled evaluations to redraw the state's congressional boundaries.
ATLANTA - A high-stakes special legislative session kicks off at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Georgia State Capitol, but a sudden announcement has completely altered the agenda.
House Speaker Jon Burns declared that lawmakers will not focus on redrawing the state's political maps, despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision limiting race as a factor in redistricting.
What we know:
Gov. Brian Kemp originally ordered lawmakers back to Atlanta after the high court's ruling forced a review of the state's political boundaries.
House Speaker Jon Burns nixed redistricting for special session
In a major legislative curveball just hours before the General Assembly was set to gavel in, Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns has officially nixed plans to redraw the state’s political maps during this week's special session. The high-stakes announcement creates an immediate partisan rift under the Gold Dome, with legislative leaders directly bucking a push from outgoing Governor Brian Kemp to rewrite Georgia's U.S. congressional and state legislative boundaries.
However, Burns announced at the State Capitol that Georgia Republicans decided against evaluating redistricting during this special session, choosing instead to analyze the situation further. The announcement triggered a wave of cheers from the audience, and officials confirmed they informed Gov. Kemp of the change.
"Have the potential to impact every voter in Georgia. And they deserve the same thoughtful, fact-driven process that has always guided the House," Burns said during the announcement.
The sudden pivot leaves the state's current boundaries intact for now and represents a significant shift from what many expected to be a contentious partisan battle.
Aside from the map debate, lawmakers are still slated to address how votes will be tabulated in future elections.
The session is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Georgia State Capitol.
Governor's response
The other side:
Sen. Harold Jones II (D) said he believes Republicans were not expecting such backlash from Georgia voters when the idea of redistricting was brought up.
"What they were anticipating was that they could get away with it and that the people would not get energized," Jones said after Burns' announcement. "The people of Georgia got energized, and we're the first state to stop this at this particular point."
Kemp responded to the decision in a written statement, saying in part, "I do not believe there is reason to delay the apportionment process, especially with the legislature already convening. Legislative districting, however, is the responsibility of the General Assembly, and it is within their discretion to defer the issue until a later date."
Original story
Democrats and Republicans are entering the session with sharply different views on what the redistricting process should accomplish.
What they're saying:
Democratic lawmakers and civil rights advocates argue the proposed changes could weaken minority representation in Georgia and disproportionately affect Black voters.
"It's beyond politics at this point in time," Jones said. "We understand it's a direct attack on African American communities and minority communities."
Republicans, meanwhile, argue the maps must be revised to comply with the Supreme Court's ruling.
"The Supreme Court decision is clear. That we can't have these racially gerrymandered maps anymore. They're illegal," Josh McKoon, Georgia Republican Party chairman, said.
Supporters of the changes contend that districts drawn primarily around race are no longer legally defensible and should be adjusted to meet constitutional requirements.
Georgia lawmakers returning for special session
Georgia lawmakers are meeting in a special session to possibly redraw legislative and congressional district maps following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on redistricting.
Key congressional district expected to be scrutinized
Dig deeper:
One district that was expected to receive significant attention is represented by Sanford Bishop, a Democrat whose southwest Georgia district is among the few remaining rural majority-Black congressional districts in the region.
The future of that district and others like it could have become a focal point during negotiations and debate throughout the session.
Opponents of changes to the district argue they could reduce minority voting strength, while supporters say adjustments are necessary under the court's guidance.
Election administration also on agenda
Lawmakers are also expected to address how votes will be tabulated in future elections.
What we know:
Two years ago, the General Assembly approved legislation prohibiting the use of QR codes as part of Georgia's official vote count beginning July 1. However, lawmakers never approved a replacement method for tallying ballots.
As a result, legislators will need to determine how election officials will count votes moving forward before the new requirements take effect.
The outcome of the special session could have significant implications for Georgia elections in the years ahead, including the political landscape voters will encounter during the 2028 election cycle.