Georgia Public Service Commission elections postponed again by court case

ATLANTA — There will be no Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) elections this year because a lawsuit challenging the system the state uses to elect commissioners is still pending, the secretary of state’s office announced Wednesday.

The 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled last November that the five-member PSC may continue holding elections statewide rather than by district.

A lawsuit filed by four Black Fulton County residents had argued that electing the commissioners statewide diluted Black voting strength in violation of the federal Voting Rights Act, making it more difficult for Black voters to elect a candidate of their choice.

Specifically, the suit targeted a map of the PSC districts the General Assembly’s Republican majorities adopted two years ago.

The terms of two commissioners — Republicans Tim Echols and Fitz Johnson — expired at the end of 2022, but they were allowed to continue in their seats until the lawsuit was settled.

Because the plaintiffs have appealed the appellate court decision and the case remains pending, this year’s PSC elections have been postponed again.

This story comes to GPB through a reporting partnership with Capitol Beat.