Urgent Read: Don’t Let Them Turn Back Time
“The Fight for our Voice and the Vote”

The Issue?

On October 6, 2011, Gov. Nathan Deal and Attorney General Sam Olens (former Cobb County Commission Chair) filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia seeking preclearance of the House, Senate, and Congressional maps that were passed by both chambers of the legislature during the August 2011 Special Session. In this lawsuit, Georgia’s Republican leadership has also challenged the constitutionality of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, and has requested that it no longer be enforced.Additionally, Gov. Deal has announced the intent of the Republican leadership to simultaneously seek preclearance through the Department of Justice’s administrative process. An initial filing was made on October 11, 2011, and an additional submission letter was mailed on October 21, 2011.

A handful of jurisdictions, including Georgia, with histories of discriminatory voting practices cannot implement any change impacting voting without first obtaining “preclearance” under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. Preclearance requires the state to demonstrate that a proposed voting change is not retrogressive and does not have the purpose or effect of discriminating based on race. States can seek preclearance through the Department of Justice, or through the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, with the Justice Department evaluating the maps as a party to the case.

The potential impact?

The potential impact is that segments of minorities may have a diminished voice in the political process. It is very possible that there will be some parties that will seek to consolidate minority voting blocks into isolated districts thereby diminishing their influence in several districts. For instance, we may have 2 districts where minorities constitute the majority and 4 where there is significant influence (i.e. 30% or more). In the new maps the votes could be consolidated into the 2 majority districts. This then reduces minority influence from 6 districts to 2. While it gives the appearance of preserving the majority districts, it clearly reduces the ability for minorities to have a significant voice in the political process. We can’t allow this “political herding” to occur. Additionally, it is not time for Georgia to be exempt from Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. It was just 9 years ago that we had to tender lawsuit in order to have the Cobb County commission seats equitably drawn We can’t allow them to turn back the hands of time. Our community and our kids’ futures are at stake.

What can you do to help?

A. Contact the Department of Justice
a. Voice your opposition to the redistricting practices and maps with a letter to the Department of Justice
i. Mr. Chris Herren,
Chief, Voting Section
Civil Rights Division
Room 7254 – NWB
Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20530
b. You may also email your letter to vot1973c@usdoj.gov. Please enter “Georgia Redistricting” in the subject field.
c. You may fax your letter to 202-616-9514 and on your cover page, please reference “Georgia Redistricting”
B. Contact the Georgia Attorney General
a. Via mail
i. Mr. Sam Olens
Office of the Attorney General
40 Capitol Square, SW
Atlanta, Ga 30334
b. Via phone at (404) 656-3300
c. Via fax at (404) 657-8733
C. Send comments to Georgia Fair Districts
 Please forward your concerns and thoughts to comments@georgiafairdistricts.com. Also, please visit www.gafairdistricts.com to stay up-to-date with maps and updates. Encourage your friends and community leaders to do the same.

If you have additional questions, concerns, or would be willing to share your letter with us, please contact us at: comments@georgiafairdistricts.com