Georgia Meriwether County Board of Commissioners Redistricting Challenge
Georgia State Conference of the NAACP v. Meriwether County Board of Elections and Registration
A pro-voting lawsuit challenging a redistricting map that dilutes the voting power of Black voters in Meriwether County, Georgia.
Background
The Georgia NAACP and two Black voters filed a lawsuit against the Meriwether County Board of Elections challenging the 2022 redistricting map for electing county commissioners. The plaintiffs allege that the map violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by diluting the voting strength of Black voters, drastically reducing the Black voting-age population in the only district that had a Black commissioner at the time. They ask the court to block future use of the map and adopt a new map that complies with Section 2.
Why It Matters
Meriwether County’s 2022 redistricting plan stripped Black voters of fair representation by dismantling the only district that had a Black commissioner, leaving the Board entirely without Black representation even though the county previously had two Black commissioners. The County adopted the map without holding any public hearings—despite a request from the only Black commissioner at the time.
Latest Updates
- Oct. 20, 2025: Plaintiffs filed their first amended complaint.
- Oct. 9, 2025: Plaintiffs filed their complaint.