Surprise: Redistricting process will remain same as last time

Legislators held 11 public hearings across the state this summer before choosing how to redraw the lines that form Georgia’s congressional and legislative districts.

Here’s what they came up with: Do it the same way as last time.

Legislative committees this past week voted to go with essentially the same guidelines they used 10 years ago to draw districts with similar populations based on recently released census numbers.

But there are many ways to draw a map, and the key to the process is who’s holding the crayons.

That’s why many of those who attended this summer’s hearings called for greater transparency in the process.

But, as was done before, Georgia’s new political maps will be drawn in secret, only to become public once they are submitted to redistricting committees, according to the guidelines that legislators put in place this past week.

A decade ago, that meant the public didn’t see state district maps until the Friday before the General Assembly opened its special session for redistricting. It was two more weeks, midway through the session, before an initial viewing of the congressional maps.

That’s something Susanna Scott, president of the League of Women Voters of Georgia, doesn’t want to see happen again.

“Georgians have a right to know how and why these decisions are being made,” she said. “We have the right to see proposed maps and be given sufficient time to provide input before the maps are written into law.”

The new (old) guidelines also suggest — with no obligation — that lawmakers:

■ Consider boundaries of counties and communities, with an idea of keeping areas unified. (Majority parties often divide cities to water down opponents’ strongholds while maintaining their own edge in elections.)

■ Avoid pairing incumbent legislators in the same district.

■ Announce committee meetings to the public at least 24 hours in advance.