Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and state Sen. John F. Kennedy, chairman of the Senate Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee, have released a map showing tentative new Congressional districts.
The map does not include state House or Senate districts or possible lines for local municipalities or school boards.
As drawn, this draft includes major changes for east-central Georgia’s District 10 and District 12 seats, currently held by Congressman Jody Hice and Congressman Rick Allen respectively.
Currently, District 12 covers Richmond County and all or parts of 18 other counties. The draft map changes that to all or parts of 23 counties. Among the biggest changes is the draft map puts all of Columbia County, a Republican-majority county, in District 12. It is currently divided between the 12th and 10th districts.
MORE: Georgia Redistricting Hearings Drawing to a Close
The draft also adds McDuffie, Warren, Glascock, Washington, Jefferson, Johnson, Wilkinson and part of Baldwin Counties. It eliminates Coffee, Jeff Davis, Appling and Wheeler Counties. That means all but four of the CSRA counties — Lincoln, Wilkes, Hancock and Taliaferro Counties — are in the same district. Those four counties are part of the 10th district.
District 10 moves slightly northward, picking up all or parts of Jackson, Elbert, Madison and Gwinnett Counties.
Columbia County Elections Director Nancy Gay liked the change.
“We still need to wait on the State (House/Senate) lines to have a more complete picture of what we are working with. I do like the idea of all of Columbia County being in one Congressional district,” she said.
Congressman Rick Allen has not responded to a request for comment on the proposed changes. A spokesman for Hice said he does not have any comment on this draft map. Hice is not running for reelection to the district 10 seat in Congress.
Duncan said, “It is clear that this map not only meets principles of redistricting, but we are proud to present a map that regardless of political party, Georgians can be proud of. Ensuring that any maps we produce are fair, compact, and keep communities of interest together will continue to be of upmost importance.”
Kennedy said, “Even given the delay of official Census numbers, the Senate Redistricting Committee has diligently worked to ensure that we hear from citizens across all regions of the state. Looking at this map, it is obvious that Georgians have been heard and will continue to be heard.”
Gov. Brian Kemp set Nov. 3 for a special session of the Georgia Legislature to finalize Congressional districts as well as those for the state House and Senate.
[adrotate banner=”13″]
Kemp’s proclamation on Sept. 23 did not include legislative proposals for dealing with increasing crime that has swept Georgia in the past year. The governor also did not include a discussion of whether the special session should expand its Medicaid program to cover more uninsured residents, something Democrats have requested but the governor has opposed.
Meanwhile, some local election officials are asking state legislators to delay the 2022 qualifying period and primary election by more than a month because of the delayed 2020 census numbers and final redistricting maps.
A resolution passed on Aug. 30 by members of the Georgia Association of Voter Registration and Elections Officials at their annual conference said, “These delays will give the counties inadequate time to make complicated redistricting changes before the commencement of candidate qualifying on March 7, 2022; and that after the 2010 Census, the qualifying period in 2012 commenced on May 23, 2012, providing more than two additional months for redistricting efforts.”
MORE: Augustans Offer Feedback at Redistricting Meeting
The local election workers request the qualifying period begin on April 11, 2022. It is currently set to open March 7, 2022. They ask the primary election date be moved from May 24, 2022, to June 28 with any needed runoff elections scheduled for July 26.
The resolution read, “This change would provide additional time for redistricting in 2022 and allow for both the general primary and runoff to be conducted when schools are not in session for 2022 and future years.”
Among those who signed the resolution was Travis Doss, assistant director of the Richmond County Board of Elections who is secretary of GAVREO. In Columbia County, Gay said she is unaware of anyone in her office signing the document.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com.
[adrotate banner=”51″]
