October 1, 2026
ATLANTA — Georgia lawmakers will return to the state Capitol on June 17 to contend with two election-related issues under an order signed Wednesday by Gov. Brian Kemp.
The proclamation requires the General Assembly to convene for a special session to consider redrawing legislative districts, pointing to a U.S. Supreme Court decision in April that struck down race-based redistricting enabled by a section of the Voting Rights Act.
The order also calls on the Legislature to address a lingering problem with the state’s voting process.
Georgia’s current voting process will become illegal July 1 under a 2024 state law that banned the use of Quick Response barcodes, known as QR codes, for tallying votes. Despite meeting for two regular legislative sessions since passing that law, state lawmakers have neither authorized nor funded an alternative process.
The death last month of U.S. Rep. David Scott, a metro Atlanta Democrat, triggered a special election in July, leaving little time to address the issue.
Kemp’s proclamation calls lawmakers to the Gold Dome at 2 p.m. on June 17, the day after any necessary runoff elections to decide the outcome of the May 19 primary elections.
By then, some lawmakers who return to the Capitol will know that they lost and will be out of office next year.
They will be redrawing election maps without the same limitations previously imposed by the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The U.S. Supreme Court decision in April raises questions about future legal interpretations of the act. Lawmakers in several Southern states moved to redraw district lines after the ruling.
Share with others
