5 Questions Georgia Senate Republicans Need To Answer Before Rushing Their Map To a Vote

At hearings yesterday for the redrawing of Georgia’s Senate map, Republicans doubled down on their plan to rush their proposal through the legislature and failed to provide sufficient answers to basic questions about the fairness of their map.

Despite pleas from Georgians to slow the process and allow for meaningful public dialogue, today Republicans still plan “to move forward with the map after hearing two hours of public comments Thursday critical of a hasty process that continues to lean Republican in a politically split state.”

Also today, the redistricting committee will consider Georgia Senate Democrats’ proposed map, which received an “A” grade for fairness in a non-partisan analysis, compared to Republicans’ map’s “F” grade for fairness.

Here are 5 questions Georgia Senate Republicans need to answer before proceeding with their map:

• Why are several counties with significant minority populations – such as Athens-Clarke, Bibb, Chatham, Douglas, and Henry, each unnecessarily split into multiple districts?
• Why are Republicans rushing in a matter of days legislation that will impact Georgians for the next decade, especially after repeated calls from the public for at least 2 weeks to review and provide feedback on the proposed maps?
• Why does Republicans’ proposal reduce the Black voting age population of Senate District 17 by 10 percent – eliminating the ability of Black voters to elect a candidate of choice – when it could have easily created a majority Black Senate District 17 (as demonstrated in Georgia Senate Democrats’ plan)?
• Why does Republicans’ proposed plan turn Senate District 48 – a majority-minority district – into a majority-white district?
• Will Republicans seriously consider Senate Democrats’ proposed map, which received a non-partisan “A” rating for fairness and enjoys broad support among Georgia voters?

“Georgians have demanded fair maps and a transparent redistricting process, and Georgia Senate Republicans are failing on both fronts,” said Scott Hogan, Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Georgia. “Georgians deserve an open redistricting process – not one that rushes a decision that will affect Georgians for the next decade. Republicans must give voters a meaningful opportunity for feedback on their proposed map and give serious consideration to Senate Democrats’ proposal, which protects the interests of Georgia voters.”

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