RALEIGH, N.C. – The Republican majority in the state legislature finalized and passed new redistricting maps last week, setting the political districts for congressional, State House and State Senate elections in North Carolina.

Redistricting experts say the new maps will give Republicans more seats in Congress next year and solidify the GOP majority in the North Carolina General Assembly.

What You Need To Know

  •  The Republican majority House and Senate passed new Congressional, State House, and State Senate maps

  •  Leaders say they drew the maps with political considerations, hoping to give more advantages to Republicans

  •  Linda Dark lives in Forsyth County, and is in a district that stretches to Lincoln County

  • The Triad is split into several congressional districts

In the last election, North Carolina elected seven Democrats and seven Republicans to the U.S. House of Representatives. With the new maps, redistricting analysts say there are now 10 Republican districts, three districts for Democrats, and one that could be a toss-up. The new maps are likely to once again be challenged in court. 

Redistricting is supposed to happen once a decade, but North Carolina voters have seen their political districts change every few years as advocates challenge maps in the courts. 

RELATED: New N.C. congressional map could cause multiple Democrats to lose their seats

With the new maps in place for 2024 and potential court challenges coming, some advocates and opponents are working to make sure people know what district they’ve been moved to.

One of those people is Linda Dark.

Dark has been involved in voting rights advocacy since her teenage years and says she cares deeply about making sure voting rights stay strong in the state.

“For my generation, when you became old enough to vote that was kind of an exciting thing. It was sort of like getting your learner's permit,” Dark said.

She kept an eye on the redistricting process, letting family, friends and neighbors know when their districts changed.

Even though she lives just 15 minutes away from one of her cousins, both in Forsyth County, they’re now in separate congressional districts.

Dark is concerned that it dilutes their voices, because they can’t work together anymore to speak to their representative.

“What I have found with their church members, it's very difficult to get people to call because, number one, they're not sure who to call,” Dark said. “That's another issue, because for me, this is my third district. I started out in 16, I went to five. Now I'm in ten. Who knows where I'm going to be next time?”

During the redistricting process, Republican lawmakers who worked on the maps said they took political information into consideration, drawing the maps to help elect more Republicans. That's called political gerrymandering, and it's legal, according to the North Carolina Supreme Court.

That’s a frustrating thing to Dark, who says she wants to be with her community.

“All people are asking for is fairness. Is it fair to take me out of my county and put me with Lincoln County? I don't think so.”

The Triad is split up into four different congressional districts. One stretches from Guilford to Ashe and Watauga Counties. One goes from Cabarrus County to Forsyth and Guilford. Another connects Guilford County to Cumberland County. Dark’s district goes from Forsyth to Lincoln County.

“I don't know any people there. I do go down a highway to get to 85 on my way to South Carolina, but that's all I know about those counties. They're closer to Charlotte. I would assume that they have issues that are important to Charlotte,” Dark said.

Dark says the Triad works together on a variety of issues, from tourism to business, and she’s worried that splitting the area up into four districts isn’t what is best for the growing community.