NEWS BRIEF: New voting maps can be used this year, judge says

Newly drawn congressional and state legislative maps in Georgia can be used for this year’s election cycle, a judge ruled this week. US district judge Steve Jones said there was insufficient time to adjust the maps before the first primary. The districts were drafted by state lawmakers and signed into law last year by Gov. Brian Kemp. Civil rights advocates say the maps diminish the voting power of minority groups. “This is an interim, non-final ruling that should not be viewed as an indication of how the court will ultimately rule on the merits at trial,” Jones wrote in his order. “Under the specific circumstances of this case, the court finds that proceeding with the enacted maps for the 2022 election cycle is the right decision.” theguardian.com