Tennessee lawmakers have approved all three congressional, state House and state Senate redistricting maps.

The new district boundaries have come under intense scrutiny from voting-rights advocacy groups, who argued they “crack” the state’s largest Black and Brown areas and dilute minority voting and political power.

Luis Mata, policy coordinator for Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition Votes, explained the new districts will likely be in effect for the May primary election.

“For example, right, we have Davidson County,” Mata said. “In the previous district, Black voters made up 27% of the population. And now, with the new maps that were revealed, they’re being split into three completely separate districts.

Republican lawmakers maintained the maps fairly account for changes in population based on the latest census data. According to the nonprofit group ThinkTennessee, Tennesseans historically have had fewer opportunities for public participation and less access to redistricting maps compared to other states.

Mata added the maps follow the same pattern, diluting the representation of Black and Brown communities in southwest Tennessee, particularly the districts of Rep. Torrey Harris, D-Memphis and Rep. London Lamar, D-Memphis, both Black Democrats.

“In the Memphis area, we have Rep. Torrey Harris and Rep. Lamar, who were put together in the same district,” Mata said. “They’re essentially packing together those incumbents to eliminate that power.”

While the governor is expected to sign off on the maps, Mata said advocates continue to rally for changes to what they see as gerrymandered legislative districts.

“That means that right now, we still have time to use our voices,” Meta said. “To call, to email, to continue putting pressure, and urging elected officials to do the right thing.”

On Twitter, the Tennessee Democratic Party announced it was preparing to file a lawsuit against the maps.