AOTL Testifies at Final Statewide Redistricting Meeting

For Immediate Release:
July 30, 2021
Contact:
Fabiola Rodriguez
rodriguez@redistrictingaction.org

AOTL Testifies at Final Statewide Redistricting Meeting 

Public input hearings should be made widely available to understand the needs of diverse communities and ensure a transparent process

Today, All On The Line (AOTL) Georgia State Director, Theron Johnson, delivered testimony at the final virtual statewide redistricting meeting, calling for a transparent and inclusive redistricting process. As it stands, the current format of public hearings has restricted the ability of many Georgians to have their voice heard in this decades redistricting process and the committee has stated that it will not be holding a second hearing tour. Georgians must be able to give public input on draft maps after census data is available. 

Highlights from Theron Johnson’s testimony include:

“The majority of Georgians reside in the metro Atlanta area — counties that have seen the highest levels of growth. Despite this, opportunities for official public engagement have been lacking. There have been no sessions in Cobb, DeKalb or Gwinnett Counties, and only one hearing in Atlanta. Hearings have been all but inaccessible to Georgians who lack private transportation and to non-native English speakers due to a lack of translation services.”

“It’s extremely problematic that during this week’s hearing in Columbus, [House Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment Committee] Chairwoman Bonnie Rich stated that she does not think it will be possible to hold a second hearing tour, including the metro Atlanta area, after Census data is made available. There must be hearings held after final Census data is received  and draft maps are available to ensure a fair and transparent process where we the public have a voice - we will not accept anything less.”

“I close with these recommendations: Legislators on the redistricting committees must read public testimony into the record and consider it when drawing proposed maps; when Census data is released and maps are proposed, the committees must provide opportunities for public comment on the maps and ensure accessibility by public transportation and through language translation services. Democracy is at its best when its processes and systems are fair, transparent, equitable and accessible. We should expect nothing less from our redistricting process.”

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