There are three redistricting court cases that wrapped up in a combined trial on September 14, 2023:

• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. v. Raffensperger

• Grant v. Raffensperger

• Pendergrass v. Raffensperger

The plaintiffs argued that Georgia’s State House, Senate, and Congressional districts violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. You can read more info about the cases here, and view various filings and materials here. 

The judge indicated in a decision last year that he is likely to find the current maps do in fact violate the Voting Rights Act, though he postponed his ruling at the time because, he argued, it was too close to Election Day. The judge has signaled that he will issue a decision this year by Thanksgiving at the latest. If he decides the districts are in violation of the VRA, he will call for the Governor to convene a Special Session, likely within a specified timeframe. The Governor must give two weeks notice to convene a Special Session.

Will a Special Reapportion Session in Georgia occur in 2023? Will it be postponed to early 2024? Or, will it not happen at all? The judge could rule in a variety of ways – instead of calling for a Special Session, he could send the maps to be redrawn by a Special Master or he could rule the maps don't violate the Voting Rights Act. The Supreme Court could also flip its stance and take up one of the many challenges pending to the Voting Rights Act, further delaying the Georgia ruling. We should know by Thanksgiving, so get your bets in soon...