Redistricting Special Session, Buckhead Cityhood and More

This fall has been a busy one. Kids are back in school, our work lives are busier than ever, and we are still adjusting to the new normal. The national news continues to beat a constant drum with critical issues like raising the debt ceiling, the negotiations to pass the infrastructure bills, and possibly the most important, continued efforts to pass meaningful voting rights legislation. Close to home, we are in the middle of important municipal elections. But I’d like to fill you in on a few more issues that deserve your attention.

Redistricting Special Session

The Governor has called a Special Legislative Session that will begin November 3 and conclude by Thanksgiving. The special session will focus on the once-in-a-decade redistricting process. The result will be new maps for Congressional, State Senate and State House districts. This has direct impact on how Georgians are fairly represented in State and Federal Government.

The truth is Georgia is purple, and the census data confirms this. All the population growth was in minority and urban/ex-urban populations. So, what should fair maps look like in Georgia? According to analysis by Fair districts GA and the Princeton Gerrymandering Project, we should see a shift towards Democratic and competitive districts with a more even split statewide.

Unfortunately, Republicans are in total control of this process. We expect them to racially gerrymander the maps to shore up their declining political power and to attempt to do this important work in secret, without Democratic or public input. They have issued one possible congressional map that likely takes a seat away from Democrats, but it won’t be the last. Our goal is to work to make this process as fair and transparent as possible.  

You can impact this process in three critical ways. 

• Improve the maps:  Significant public pressure can force Republicans to avoid the most egregious gerrymandering.

• Shift public opinion: Georgians have said they want fair maps. If voters see obvious gerrymandering it can create a backlash that will help Democrats in future elections.

•  Strengthen lawsuits: Records of public comments and participation in the process will strengthen lawsuits that are sure to be filed.

You can submit a public comment advocating for fair maps that reflect the population changes in Georgia, or get more involved with one of the many organizations doing great work around redistricting, including:  Fair Districts Georgia and the ACLU of GA.  

Make your voice heard and demand a fair and transparent process!

Buckhead Cityhood

The proposal to split ‘Buckhead City’ from Atlanta will not be considered during the Special Session this fall, but the debate is still heating up.  Senator Brandon Beach and other prominent Republicans are planning to hold hearings this fall to consider a very one-sided financial study of the Buckhead City proposal. This glosses over the impact on the City of Atlanta. While other studies have shown that the financial impact on the City of Atlanta will be significant, stripping $232m from the Atlanta Public School system alone! The issue with this cityhood proposal, is that our current laws do not give the entire population of Atlanta a say in this decision. The residents of the new ‘Buckhead City’ can vote to secede without consideration of the impact on Atlanta as a whole. 

This is an important issue that will impact the entire Atlanta metro region.  To learn more, read this AJC article.

Elections 

Also, it is time to make a plan to vote in the November 2, 2021 election. Elections will be held in all municipalities, and there is an important question on whether to extend the 1% Special Use Tax for Education (E-Splost) on the ballot countywide in DeKalb. 

•  First, it’s always good to check your voter registration at mvp.sos.ga.gov. The deadline to register to vote is October 4. 

• You can request an absentee ballot now through October 22 and ballots will begin to be mailed to voters on October 11.  Be aware of new restrictions imposed by SB202:

  •  Drop Boxes are only available in select early vote sights during the hours early voting is open - through Friday, Oct 29. 

  • You must provide a Georgia Driver’s License or State ID number or a copy of an acceptable ID to request a ballot.

  • You must return your ballot by 7 pm November 2, 2021.

•  The easiest way to vote is to vote early:  Oct 12 - Oct 29. 

  •  Early voting hours:  7am-7pm weekdays and 9am-6pm Saturdays (Oct 16 and 23).

  • Berean Christian Church – Family Life Center

  •  Bessie Branham Recreation Center

  • County Line-Ellenwood Library 

  • Dunwoody Library

  • Lynwood Recreation Center

  • Stonecrest Library

  • Tucker-Reid H. Cofer Library

  • Voter Registration & Elections Office, Memorial Dr.

•  For more information, go to www.DeKalbVotes.com, and if you have a question, call the Voter Protection Hotline at 888-730-5816.