Cobb Elections Board announces it will sue over Cupid map

Following numerous disputes and lawsuits that have arisen as a result of actions by Chair Lisa Cupid and some members of the Cobb County Commission to create their own map, the Cobb County Board of Elections voted to prepare a lawsuit against the Cobb County government. In their planned suit, they will ask a judge to rule whether the electoral map that has been contested for nearly two years is constitutional. The Elections Board voted 3-2 to file suit against the County government and the state of Georgia. Members Stacy Efrat and Jennifer Mosbacher opposed the request to authorize board attorney Daniel White to prepare the lawsuit. With the lawsuit the affirmative members seek a decision from Cobb Superior Court whether Cupid’s “home rule” map passed by the Cobb Board of Commissioners in 2022 is constitutional.

Supposedly passed to protect a sitting commissioner who was drawn out of her district mid-term, the county has been named in various lawsuits over the map they passed and began using instead of the map drawn by Republican led lawmakers at the capitol. With redistricting powers only belonging to state officials, it has been a costly move by Cupid to draw her own lines while claiming home rule, which she is not permitted to do. 

Since then, Cobb county has been conducting county business under the home rule map including taking votes on important matters with financial implications and barring some Cobb residents from running for office during the 2024 primary. At least one of those people removed from a race has filed her own lawsuit alleging the county map to be unconstitutional and unenforceable. She believes she should be allowed to run for office and is waiting for a ruling from Judge Kellie Hill.

Using Cupid’s illegal map, the elections board went on to hold May primary elections, but it is speculated that Hill’s ruling can change the trajectory of the races for commission. If Hill rules for the Plaintiff and the home rule map is thrown out, her ruling could force new elections and be costly to County taxpayers.

Many in the community think Cupid and her home rule map will ultimately lose on the merits of the case.