Today is deadline for Justice Dept. to rule on Ga.'s new legislative maps

ATLANTA - Today is the deadline for the U.S. Department of Justice to rule on Georgia's redrawn legislative maps.

Democrats say Republicans, who now dominate the General Assembly, are trying to reduce Democratic voting strength in Georgia with the maps created during a special legislative session.

The new congressional map creates a new 14th district which is expected to be filled by a Republican, which would boost Georgia's GOP representation in Congress.

The justice department must approve the maps before they can be used in next year's elections.

(AccessNorthGa.com's Ken Stanford contributed to this story.)