Georgia Cobb County Commission Redistricting Challenge

Lawsuit filed on behalf of three voters against Cobb County challenging the county’s map for county commissioner districts. The county’s board of commissioners sets local laws, levies taxes and controls the county budget. In March 2022, the Republican-controlled Georgia General Assembly enacted Act 562 to redraw the districts for Cobb County Board of Commissioners in light of 2020 census data. Prior to this, counties in Georgia voted on their own redistricting plans before sending them to the state Legislature for approval, which was generally granted. In October 2022, the Democratic-controlled Cobb County Board of Commissioners adopted a different redistricting plan. The commission claimed that the Georgia Constitution gave it authority to adopt its own redistricting plan. The Georgia Constitution has home rule, which gives local governments the power to create local laws. 

The plaintiffs argue that the commission violated the state constitution when it adopted its own redistricting plan. They claim that the commission does not have home rule authority because the state constitution gives the state Legislature the power to approve local redistricting plans for all counties. The plaintiffs ask the court to block the county commissioners map and order Cobb County to use the state Legislature’s approved map in future elections.

On Jan. 8, 2024, a trial court judge ruled against Cobb County. The same day, Cobb County appealed that decision directly to the Georgia Supreme Court.

On April 17, 2024, the Georgia Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case.

STATUS: This case is pending before the Georgia Supreme Court.

Last updated: April 17, 2024 4:19 pm EST