Supreme Court ruling on Voting Rights Act sparks Georgia divide

The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision impacting the Voting Rights Act has received different reactions from Georgia leaders and advocacy groups.

Democrats have widely condemned the decision while Republicans call on Gov. Brian Kemp to convene a special session to redraw the maps.

In the case Louisiana v. Callais, the court’s conservative majority ruled that Section 2 of the law required proof of intentional discrimination, meaning to challenge district maps would require evidence that the state “intentionally drew its districts to afford minority voters less opportunity because of their race.”

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock called the decision a profound step backward for American democracy, according to Georgia Public Broadcasting.

“The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is the crown jewel of the civil rights movement,” he said. “Without it, I, quite literally, would not be standing here today in front of you as a voice in the United States Senate for the people of Georgia.”

The ACLU of Georgia released a statement saying it was “deeply disappointed” in the court’s decision to strike down a map that provided fair representation for Black voters.

“I urge every eligible voter to use their right to vote. The Georgia General Assembly draws legislative districts. Every member of the General Assembly is on the ballot this year,” said Andrea Young, executive director of the ACLU of Georgia, in a statement.

Some Georgia Republicans are calling for Kemp to take this opportunity to allow the state legislature to change the maps before November’s midterm elections.

State Sen. Greg Dolezal, R-Cumming and candidate for lieutenant governor, said in a Facebook video that Georgia needs to remove what he called “racial gerrymandered maps.”

“The last thing Republicans need to do is be weak-kneed in this moment. This is a time to be bold. This is a time to be aggressive. In Georgia, that means calling a special session and redrawing our maps,” Dolezal said.

Rick Jackson and Lt. Gov Burt Jones, both of whom are running for governor, called on Kemp to have a special session, according to the Georgia Recorder.

The governor’s office is considering the impacts of the ruling, but has not given any indication if Kemp will call the special session.

David Becker of the Center for Election Innovation and Research told GPB that redistricting before the midterms would create chaos.

“It’s going to be very, very difficult for the legislature, which is out of session in Georgia, to be called back for redistricting,” he said. “I don’t know if Gov. Brian Kemp has any intention of doing that whatsoever.”