Georgia lawmakers will convene a special session next month to consider redrawing state House, state Senate and congressional district boundaries and determine how voters will cast ballots later this year.

Why it matters: New maps could break up majority-Black congressional districts and dilute Black- and other minority-majority districts in the General Assembly.

• Similar efforts in Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas and Alabama are poised to reshape voting across the South.
• If approved, redrawn maps would go into effect in the 2028 election cycle.

The latest: The special session will begin June 17, according to Kemp's proclamation issued Wednesday.

• Along with redistricting, legislators will also consider postponing a self-imposed July 1 deadline to remove QR codes from ballots.
• Senate Bill 214 passed the House, but did not pass the upper chamber before adjournment.

Catch up quick: The special session comes after the U.S. Supreme Court last month limited a key provision of the Voting Rights Act by striking down Louisiana's congressional map.

• Louisiana suspended its House elections, and the Legislature is considering a new congressional map that would eliminate one of the state's two majority-Black districts.
• Lawmakers in Tennessee last week approved a new congressional map that dilutes the state's only majority-Black district.

What we're watching: The Republican-led General Assembly could redraw congressional boundaries to weaken the seat held by U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, who holds the only Democratic seat outside metro Atlanta.

• The district, which stretches across southwest Georgia, is mostly rural and is one of the few across the South where Black voters "are the dominant political force," the AJC reported.

Share this story

And just like that, the weekend arrived. Go have fun.

🌳 Fernbank Museum hosts a forest walk with a ranger, animal encounters and "culturally relevant" science. (Thurs.-Sun.)

🎧 The two-day Breakaway EDM festival delivers dubstep, house and future bass at Center Parc Stadium. (Fri.-Sat.)

🎮 DreamHack, the popular gaming festival, returns for three days at Georgia World Congress Center. (Fri.-Sun.)

🎭 Dad's Garage's spoof series of the award-winning show The Bear — cleverly titled "Scandal! The Bare" — ends its run. (Sat.)

🪕 Enjoy the sounds of local musicians at Virginia Highland District Porchfest. (Sat.)

⛹️‍♀️ The Atlanta Dream play their home opener against the Las Vegas Aces at State Farm Arena. (Sun.)

Tell a friend

Atlanta United spends nearly $28 million on compensation for its players, according to the Major League Soccer Players Association's latest salary guide.

Yes, but: That total — the third-highest in MLS — still doesn't match what the league's top-paid player takes home.

Stunning stat: Inter Miami's Lionel Messi is getting a whopping $28.3 million in guaranteed compensation during the 2026 season, per the new guide released Tuesday.

• That tops the total payroll for all but two of the league's 30 teams.

Zoom in: Atlanta's top-paid player is Miguel Almirón, who makes nearly $7.9 million in guaranteed compensation. He's the fifth-highest paid player in MLS.

• Following Almirón are midfielder Alexey Miranchuk and center forward Emmanuel Latte Lath, with $5.1 million and $3.7 million.

The American Red Cross says workers are ready to assist southwest Atlanta apartment complex residents who say they've been without power since Mother's Day. (CBS News)

🏡 Former U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green sold her Rome, Ga., house for $1.1 million and is reportedly looking for a new residence in Georgia. (TMZ)

Jason Collins, the NBA's first openly gay player and a former Atlanta Hawks center, died on Tuesday at age 47 after battling brain cancer. (AP)