Gov. Brian Kemp signed House Bill 890 which changes the commission districts in Athens-Clarke County, effectively reapportioning voter precincts for the upcoming year.

The new district map is a drastic change compared to what currently stands. Districts 3, 5 and 7 are the districts experiencing the biggest changes.

Commissioners Melissa Link, Tim Denson and Russell Edwards currently represent these three districts, respectively. 

According to the new map, these commissioners are removed from their current districts. 

Odd numbered districts are up for re-election this year, but with the new map, Link, Denson and Edwards now live in even numbered districts meaning they cannot run until 2024. 

Right now, there are no immediate changes until the election process on May 24, 2022. The map does not go into effect until Jan. 1, 2023.

Madison Cook is a senior majoring in journalism at the College of Journalism and Mass Communications and minoring in Communication Studies at the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Georgia.