ATLANTA — A federal judge ruled on Thursday that Georgia’s redrawn congressional maps violate a section of the Voting Rights Act.

The Georgia General Assembly and Governor Brian Kemp approved the maps back in 2021. The maps shifted the Republican edge from 8-6 to 9-5.

A series of lawsuits were filed against the state of Georgia arguing that the redrawn maps illegally discriminate against minorities and take away their voting power.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Steve Jones ruled that the maps did violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Georgia General Assembly now has until December 8, 2023 to enact new maps that comply with the Voting Rights Act.

Stay with 95.5 WSB for more on this developing story.

“The Court is confident that the General Assembly can accomplish its task by December 8, 2023,” Judge Jones wrote in his conclusion. “The General Assembly enacted the Plans quickly in 2021; the Legislature has been on notice since at least the time that this litigation was commenced nearly 22 months ago that new maps might be necessary; the General Assembly already has access to an experienced cartographer; and the General Assembly has an illustrative remedial plan to consult.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Greg Bluestein posted Jones’ full ruling to ‘X’, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution contributed to this story.

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