MACON, Ga. — Two new voting districts are being created in the Macon area.
Bibb County currently has two House districts with four representatives. That includes Republican Reps. Dale Washburn and Robert Dickey and Democratic Reps. James Beverly and Miriam Paris.
Under the proposed maps, there will be four House districts with two majority-black districts after a federal judge ordered the previously proposed maps violated the Voting Rights Act.
In October, a federal judge ordered lawmakers to redraw state legislative maps.
"Jones specifically said there needs to be two majority-black districts drawn in the Macon area," Charles Bullock said.
Bullock is a political science Professor at UGA. He says the goal in drawing new maps was to give more black voters a voice.
"The minority vote would be large enough that it would have certainly a great impact on who would win and maybe be able to choose its preferred candidates," he said.
Rep. Dickey says he believes lawmakers have come to a fair conclusion.
"I think we've reached a real balance doing what the judge ordered without really changing the landscape too much," Representative Dickey shared.
As the judge ordered, the maps include two majority-back districts.
"Down in the Macon-Bibb area we have House districts 145 and 149," Rep. Rob Leverett shared at the Dec. 1, reapportionment and redistricting meeting.
District 145 includes parts of Bibb County down to Northern Houston County.
District 149 includes East Macon, extends to Milledgeville, and also includes Twiggs County.
The proposal would impact Bibb's four representatives. Representative Washburn would lose part of his Bibb and Monroe County voters.
Representative Dickey, loses his Houston and Bibb county voters but gains Lamar and Upson counties. As an Agricultural Commissioner, he says he's happy with the rural territory and plans to run for the seat in 2024.
"It really I think fits me very well. Upson County is a great ag community with a lot of cattle farmers," he said.
Rep. Miriam Paris loses part of her Macon district but gains part of Monroe County, and Rep. James Beverly loses east Macon and gains the Northern Warner Robins area.
Dickey says after a lot of debate, he still believes all three redrawn maps represent the community well.
"Hopefully, the judge sees fit to do these maps. I think they're very fair, and representative of our communities," Dickey said.
The federal judge is scheduled to review these maps again on Dec. 20. If he doesn't find them to meet his requests, he could appoint a special judge to redraw them.
This morning Georgia Republicans passed a new House of Representatives map, also ordered by a federal judge for the same reason.
Georgia Democrats put out a statement saying they think the map continues to dilute minority voting power. It says in part, "Republicans have proven once again today that they will always put their own partisan interests above the best interests of our democracy."