Redistricting Georgia After 2020 Census BY CHARLICE BYRD
In the year succeeding the census, state legislators undertake redrawing district boundaries for Congress, and the state House and Senate. With the release of the 2020 census data, Georgia legislators are in the process of resetting our state’s political district lines, as is done every 10 years. This process begins with the Joint Reapportionment Committee holding 11 town hall meetings, to hear from the public about the process of redrawing Georgia’s political boundaries. Next, Georgia lawmakers convene to craft and approve the new political maps. Decisions on the boundaries then are made by state legislators, even though the districts they are redrawing include their own. It’s a contentious and complicated job, but an important one. When this process is complete, voters, and even some current elected officials, may end up assigned to new election districts. Candidates will run in those new districts in 2022. The outcome of redistricting will have consequences for years to come, affecting who is elected, and, perhaps, the balance of power between Democrats and Republicans in Congress, the state House and the state Senate. Georgia has 56 state Senate districts and 180 state House districts, with Republicans holding majorities of both chambers. Republican leadership in the Legislature appoints
members to the state’s bipartisan redistricting committee, with 10 of the 15 state Senate members being Republican and 13 of the 18 state House members being Republican. Each district must have roughly the same number of voters, adjusted to account for the 2020 census. Georgia’s population has grown to 10.7 million residents since the last census, a 1 million increase. Although our state grew, the number of Congressional, state Senate and state House Districts will remain static. The Georgia General Assembly convenes on Nov. 3 for a special session at the state Capitol to create new borders for the state House, state Senate and U.S. House districts.
How can I learn more?
Visit the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office website at www.legis.ga.gov, to find links to maps and other resources about the process, as well as to livestream the special session.
Rep. Charlice Byrd represents District 20 in the Georgia House of Representatives. charlice.byrd@house.ga.gov
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