Statement of Governor Sonny Perdue Regarding the U.S. Supreme Court's Redistricting Decision

ATLANTA, GA - Governor Sonny Perdue issued the following statement today regarding the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Georgia's redistricting case, Cox v. Larios:

"The U.S. Supreme Court, our nation's highest legal authority, has affirmed our efforts to ensure every individual is granted their right to a just and fair vote. Thankfully, this is the final step in this process with the one-person, one-vote standard having been upheld. We now have districts that adhere to traditional redistricting principles and respect each individual's sacred right to vote. It is my hope that Georgia never returns to the partisan days in which politicians choose their constituents rather than the people choosing their representatives. This is a great day for democracy in the state of Georgia."

With only one dissent, the Court upheld the decision of a three-judge federal panel that resulted in Georgia's state House and Senate districts being redrawn earlier this year. Justices Stevens and Breyer stated: "Today we affirm the District Court's judgment that Georgia's legislative reapportionment plans for the State House of Representatives and Senate violate the one-person, one-vote principle of the Equal Protection Clause." They further stated that by appealing, "appellant [Secretary of State Cathy Cox] invites us to weaken the one-person one-vote standard ... The Court properly rejects that invitation."