Georgia’s statewide election districts would be drawn by a citizen commission

A 15-member citizen commission would have sole authority to draw covered election districts. It would cover Georgia’s legislative and congressional districts and other elected bodies whose districts divide the entire state. The amendment would require voter approval. Members must be registered Georgia voters. Six-year limits on political, lobbying, and election oversight roles, specified family ties, and three-year primary voting rules would limit eligibility. Nine members would be randomly chosen from screened applicants and would select six more. Four legislative party leaders could each remove up to six applicants. The commission would operate when a ten-year federal census or court order requires new maps. Court-ordered work would cover only affected maps.

Commissioners would follow mapmaking rules, invite public input, and submit every adopted map to the Georgia Supreme Court. People could join hearings remotely and submit maps. Business and records would generally be public, with exceptions for legal advice and specified records. These rules would apply if voters approve the amendment. Maps must follow federal law, protect minority voters’ equal opportunity, and keep districts connected with substantially equal populations. Members must preserve shared local communities where possible and respect local boundaries where practical. Maps could not split populated census blocks or use candidates’ home addresses. Most decisions would need nine votes, including two from each membership group. If members cannot agree on maps, a ranking process could lead to random selection. At least ten hearings would precede census-cycle draft maps, or six for court-ordered maps; six would follow release. Regular plans would receive at least 45 days for public comment.

The General Assembly would set aside money for commission operations and salaries. A dedicated fund would support commission operations. Unused money could remain available for legal defense or calling the commission back into service. These requirements would depend on voter approval. Census-year funding must cover at least one mapmaking cycle. Lawmakers must provide further money as needed to keep operations going. Each commissioner would receive at least one-fifth of the governor’s salary. Georgia would also cover commissioners’ incurred costs. Within six months after the commission dissolves, the state auditor would return money not needed for future risks or expenses to the state’s general fund.

Employers could not punish workers for commission service, and commissioners would face restrictions on other public offices. Commissioners could not seek or receive appointments to statewide, state legislative, or state judicial offices, or serve on bodies overseeing elections or campaign finance. These protections and restrictions would apply if voters approve the amendment. Employers could not fire, threaten, pressure, or retaliate against workers because they serve on the commission or attend, or are scheduled to attend, its meetings. The five-year restriction would start when a commissioner begins service.

The General Assembly would set each legislative chamber’s membership count through state law. The rule would cover the number of Georgia senators and state representatives. This rule would depend on voter approval of the amendment. Revisions would be allowed only during the year of a ten-year federal census, before April 1.