Gerrymandering, Census the focus of upcoming town hall in Clarkston

"We know that there are a lot of questions around these issues and we hope our town halls can help answer some of those questions," said Sara Henderson, the executive director of Common Cause Georgia.

Every 10 years, each state must redraw state and congressional district lines to account for population shifts. That process will take place after the 2020 census.

» RELATED: Gerrymandering ruling could shape Georgia’s power dynamic for years

In most states, including Georgia, politicians draw their own maps, allowing them to tailor district boundaries that include more of their voters, helping ensure their re-election.

“This manipulation is called gerrymandering and it’s a threat to our democracy,” Common Cause said in its statement.

Republicans currently control every statewide office and both chambers of the General Assembly. If that power dynamic holds after next year’s elections, the GOP majority can draw district boundaries that further advantage the party. Democrats could do the same if they flip control of the Legislature.

» READ MORE: Gerrymandering likely to survive despite Georgia’s shifting politics

The town hall will include a 15-minute presentation, a panel discussion with a guest speaker from the Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law and 30 minutes of questions from the audience.

The meeting will be at the Clarkston Community Center at 3701 College Ave. Clarkston has a heavy immigrant and refugee population and is considered “the most diverse square mile in America.” It has already begun devoting resources to ensure it achieves a full count on the 2020 Census.

Common Cause’s tour has already made a stop in Albany, and it has plans to visit Macon and Athens next month.

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