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LULAC, GLBC, and GALEO File Motion To Intervene In Georgia’s Request for Preclearance of Statewide Redistricting Plans

December 22, 2011

Contact: Paloma Zuleta, pzuleta@lulac.org, (202) 812-4477

Atlanta, Georgia – The League of United Latin American Citizens (“LULAC”) along with the Legislative Black Caucus of the Georgia General Assembly, Inc. (“GLBC”), and the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (“GALEO”), submitted a motion to the United States District Court in the District of Columbia to intervene as defendants to oppose Georgia’s request for preclearance of the proposed redistricting plans for the Georgia House and Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. That action is Georgia v. Holder, No. 1:11-cv-1788.

Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act requires that before Georgia’s proposed plans may be implemented, they must receive preclearance from either the Department of Justice or the Federal District Court in D.C. Georgia has sought preclearance from the Department of Justice and also filed an action in the D.C. District Court. The DOJ is expected to render a decision on preclearance no later than December 23, 2011, the same day its answer is due to be filed in Georgia v. Holder.

“We maintain that the political maps drawn by the lawmakers do not reflect the growth in the states' Hispanic and African American populations; they in fact marginalize minority voters in the state,” said LULAC National President Margaret Moran. “LULAC is concerned that the redistricting maps that were passed by the Georgia General Assembly will have a negative impact on communities of color because the plans reduce the effectiveness of minority voters.”

Racial and language minorities make up more than 40 percent of the state’s population. Their percentage of the population has increased over the last ten years and is projected to continue increasing. African Americans accounted for 40 percent of the state’s growth between 2000 and 2010 and Latinos accounted for 28 percent of the state’s population growth in that period. Despite this, Georgia’s proposed plans seek to reduce the voting power of minority voters within the state. LULAC, GLBC, and GALEO have urged the Department of Justice to interpose objections to the plans, so that they may demonstrate to the D.C. Court that the plans discriminate against minority voters.

About LULAC: The League of United Latin American Citizens, the largest and oldest Hispanic membership organization in the country, advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, housing, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating through 900 LULAC councils nationwide.