Georgia's Republican legislative leaders on Wednesday rejected Gov. Brian Kemp's call to redraw congressional and legislative districts during a special session. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
House Speaker Jon Burns sent Kemp a letter hours before a special session was set to begin Wednesday, and he announced the decision as demonstrators filled the Georgia Capitol with chants of "Black voters matter!"
Burns and Senate President Pro Tempore Larry Walker III expressed concerns about moving too quickly after a U.S. Supreme Court decision that weakened federal Voting Rights Act protections for minority voters.
Gov. Kemp had called for the Republican-controlled legislature to hold a special session to redraw districts, but lawmakers rejected the move, preferring to postpone the issue.
The redistricting issue in Georgia has long been contentious, with disagreements between Republicans and Democrats intensifying over voting rights and representation.