Every ten years, different government entities go through a process called reapportionment to redraw district lines which will establish boundaries for which offices citizens/candidates can run for office to represent. The Georgia Constitution gives the General Assembly the power to draw these maps, and send them to the governor for approval. In March of 2022, state Sen. Ed Setzler’s, R-Acworth, bill to drastically redraw the districts for the Cobb County Board of Commissioners was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp, a map that drew Commissioner Jerica Richardson out of her district.
Cobb County Commission Charwoman Lisa Cupid argued that the county had the right to assert “home rule” to draw its own maps, and went forward with a new map drawn by the county.
On January 8, Cobb Superior Court Judge Ann Harris ruled that the county’s home rule map was unconstitutional, and ordered the state map be used in the 2024 election. After Cobb County filed an appeal, the Georgia Supreme Court sent out a notice on March 1 that oral arguments would not be heard on the case until April 17, leaving the Cobb Board of Elections in a conundrum. The Cobb BOE ultimately decided to use the home rule map for the upcoming 2024 primary elections in May.
On March 4, the first day of candidate qualifying, two Cobb residents were turned away from qualifying for the District 2 commissioner’s race. Former Marietta Councilman Reginald Copeland, who announced his candidacy in February was the first resident to be turned away at the headquarters for Cobb Democrats. “On Monday, March 4th, I was full of joy as I made my way to the Democrat headquarters to sign all the pertinent paperwork to run for District 2 Commissioner,” Copeland said in statement emailed to supporters. “However, when I arrived, I was informed that they could not take my qualifying fees nor allow me to complete the paperwork because the Cobb Election Board had voted to use a Home Rule Map that has been deemed unconstitutional. That map shows that I live in District 3. This is definitely a form of voter suppression, and this issue should have been resolved before qualifying,” Copeland continued.
Also turned away from qualifying on Monday was community activist Donald Barth. Barth stated that he really had no intention of campaigning for the office, but it was just more of a symbolic campaign. “All people are affected by this gerrymandering,” Barth said. “I don’t need the heartache or the headache, I just want a fair election,” Barth continued. Both Copeland and Barth live in District 2 according to the state map, but according to the home rule map, they live in District 3 which is not on the ballot this cycle.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger also weighed in on Cobb’s decision to use its home rule map over the court-approved General Assembly’s version, saying, “it jeopardizes candidate qualifying and puts Cobb County voters at risk for disenfranchisement.”
