Georgia’s redistricting roadshow travels to Northeast Georgia today with a town hall reapportionment hearing in Athens. The hearing will be held from 5-7 p.m. at Athens Technical College. It’s one in a series of gatherings lawmakers scheduled across the state to discuss redrawing Georgia’s political boundary lines.
During these town hall-style hearings, citizens may express their views and concerns about redistricting with legislators overseeing the process. Those unable to attend in person may submit written testimony to the committee using the form available on the General Assembly website.
The House Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Committee and the Senate Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee previously held hearings in Atlanta and Northwest Georgia. The hearings are streamed live and archived at www.legis.ga.gov.
Some transparency advocates have criticized the hearings, saying there are not enough, they were not well-advertised and they are being held before the state has the census data, preventing members of the public from submitting their own maps.
Others say the meetings need to be more accessible to Georgians who are not proficient in English by advertising hearings in other languages and providing translations.
Here’s the remaining hearing schedule:
Athens
When: Tuesday, July 6, 2021, from 5 – 7 p.m.
Where: Athens Technical College
Building F Auditorium
800 US-29
Athens, GA 30601
Augusta
Due to the Governor’s declaration of a state of emergency in the Augusta area, the Joint Senate and House Redistricting Hearing scheduled for July 7, 2021, in Augusta has been CANCELLED. Information regarding the meeting being rescheduled will be announced at a later date.
Brunswick
When: Monday, July 26, 2021, from 5 – 7 p.m.
Where: Location TBD
Albany
When: Tuesday, July 27, 2021, from 5 – 7 p.m.
Where: Location TBD
Columbus
When: Wednesday, July 28, 2021, from 5 – 7 p.m.
Where: Location TBD
Macon
When: Thursday, July 29, 2021, from 5 – 7 p.m.
Where: Location TBD
Virtual Hearing
When: Friday, July 30, 2021, from 5 – 7 p.m. via virtual participation only
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Ross Williams of the Georgia Recorder contributed to this report
Updated on July 7, 2021
