Georgia Calls Special Session to Redraw 2028 Maps After April Voting Rights Ruling
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 17
Georgia Calls Special Session to Redraw 2028 Maps After April Voting Rights Ruling
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 17
Summary
Wednesday’s special session in Atlanta will let Georgia Republicans pursue new congressional and state legislative maps aimed at strengthening the party before the 2028 elections.
An April Supreme Court ruling weakened the Voting Rights Act by treating many intentionally drawn Black-majority districts as unconstitutional racial gerrymanders, opening room for GOP-led states to erase seats that often elect Democrats.
Brian Kemp said Georgia will not try to use new maps for the November election because early voting in the state’s May primary was already underway.
Lawmakers are also being called back to address an election-law problem before a July 1 deadline that experts say could disrupt the November vote.
Georgia joins Tennessee, Alabama and Louisiana in moving after the ruling, though state Republicans have not yet shown how aggressively they plan to cut Democratic representation.
How will the Supreme Court's new redistricting rules impact the future of minority representation in government?
As federal voting protections change, will state courts become the next frontier for ensuring fair elections?
After Callais: Georgia’s 2026 Redistricting, Voting Rights Erosion, and the Fight for Fair Maps
Overview
Georgia's General Assembly is meeting for a special legislative session on June 17, 2026, called by Governor Brian Kemp. This session was mandated by a federal court order after Georgia's existing district maps were found to dilute the voting power of Black residents, violating Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The main goals are to redraw congressional and legislative maps for the 2028 election and to make major changes to the state's voting system. This urgent action follows recent legal shifts, especially the Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which has made it harder to challenge discriminatory maps.