Coalition urges Georgians to contact DOJ on maps

ATLANTA - A consortium of public interest groups is urging Georgians to make their voices heard on proposed new political maps.

The maps have been approved by state legislators and signed by Gov. Nathan Deal. They are now pending before the U.S. Department of Justice, which has until Dec. 23 to either reject the maps, preclear them or ask for more information.

The Georgia Redistricting Alliance is urging citizens to contact Justice Department officials in advance of that deadline.

Elizabeth Poythress, president of the League of Women Voters of Georgia, said the maps were drawn ``in a partisan manner with intent to favor one political party over the other.''

Republicans who led the Georgia redistricting effort for the first time say the maps comply with the Voting Rights Act.