We demand transparency and inclusion with redistricting processes at every level of government.

To: The Honorable Geoff Duncan, Lieutenant Governor, Georgia State Senate

The Honorable David Ralston, Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives

All members of Georgia House Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment Committee

All members of Georgia Senate Reapportionment & Redistricting Committee

VIA Email

Dear Lt. Gov. Duncan, Speaker Ralston, Senators, and Representatives:

Despite repeated calls from advocates for transparency and inclusion in redistricting processes, the Georgia Legislature has failed to respond. We demand transparency and inclusion with redistricting processes at every level of government. 

The current systems do not work for Black, Brown, and immigrant communities of Georgia. Our communities must be part of the process in meaningful ways to ensure that we are not further disenfranchised by racial and partisan gerrymandering.

We the undersigned demand the following: 

• Our communities’ voices must be part of the redistricting process. We have data and we have information that should be considered when redrawing district lines. We demand that there is ample opportunity for our community members to share this information. We demand that community members have ample opportunity to give input on proposed maps after census data has been factored into the maps.

• We demand that our input is not only heard but also considered when finalizing district maps. Joint committees must respond to our submissions and state their actions. 

• Redistricting must not be a partisan activity that protects those who are already in office. Redistricting should protect the ability of our communities to elect a candidate of choice into office. We demand that the criteria used to create maps at every level of government is released to the public via an accessible website. 

• Hearings to consider redistricting bills must be publicly accessible either in person or via video access. This includes delegation meetings that will consider and approve county commission and county school board maps. 

• We demand language equity. Joint redistricting committees must demonstrate a commitment to include all Georgians, this means providing resources, including announcements, fact sheets and any public facing materials  into a  minimum set of languages required to reach diverse Georgians (at least Spanish,  Korean, Vietnamese, Mandarin/Cantonese, Hindi, Arabic). Also, demonstrate language  access by providing for interpretation where necessary and feasible to gain public input. Moreover, the website used to broadcast public input sessions or share maps must be compliant with S.508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act, making it accessible to people with disabilities. 

• Public townhalls currently scheduled by the joint redistricting committees are insufficient. The public does not have enough information in order to be meaningfully engaged, including census data, draft maps, or information about the special redistricting session that is rumored to be held this year. Moreover, the public hearings do not include Gwinnett county, the most diverse county in the Southeast and one of the fastest growing counties in Georgia. This is entirely unacceptable. We demand public hearings after draft maps are released and that adequately cover the entire state. 

Sincerely,

9 to 5 Georgia

All On The Line

Amani Women Center

Asian American Advocacy Fund

Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta

Asian Youth for Civic Engagement

Association of Zambians in Atlanta 

Athena's Warehouse

Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI)

Black Voters Matter Fund

Burmese Rohingya Community of Georgia (BRCG)

Center for Pan Asian Community Services

COALICION DE LIDERES LATINOS- CLILA

Common Cause Georgia

El Refugio

Eritrean-American Community Association of GA

Fair Count

Fair Districts GA

Fair Fight Action

Feminist Women's Health Center

GA Familias Unidas

Georgia Alliance For Progress

Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO)

Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda 

Georgia Conservation Voters

Georgia Muslim Voter Project

Georgia STAND-UP

Georgia WAND

Hispanic Young Professionals & Entrepreneurs (HYPE)

Latino Community Fund Inc.

Latino LinQ 

League of Women Voters of Georgia

Los Vecinos de Buford Highway

Migrant Equity Southeast (MESE)

New American Pathways

Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates

Progress Georgia

Refugee Women's Network

Rep GA Institute, Inc. 

Somali American Community Center

Southeast Immigrant Rights Network

South Georgia Voters' League

State Innovation Exchange 

Step Up Savannah

Sur Legal Collaborative

U-Lead Athens

Women of Purpose Global Ministries

Women Watch Afrika