Lawmakers instructed to redraw congressional districts, proposed map to be released Monday.
Federal Judges Order Alabama to Redraw Congressional Districts
Federal judges have ordered Alabama to draw new congressional lines, stating that the state should have a second district where black voters are the majority ”or something quite close to it” and have the opportunity to elect a representative of their choice. The exact details of the new map are currently being disputed as lawmakers rush to meet the deadline.
Alabama Lawmakers Convene in Special Session
Alabama lawmakers are convening in a special session on Monday, tasked with adopting a new map by the end of the week. This directive comes after a surprise U.S. Supreme Court ruling that found Alabama’s existing congressional map, with only one black district, likely violated the Voting Rights Act.
The group of voters who sued the state and won before the Supreme Court have proposed the creation of a second district where black residents make up 50.5% of the population. However, Alabama Republicans, who hold a majority in the Alabama Legislature and control the redistricting process, have not agreed to create a second majority-black district and have suggested proposals with lower percentages of black voters.
The GOP majority will release their proposed map on Monday.
Dispute Over Equal Opportunity to Elect Candidates of Choice
Even among the plaintiffs suing the state, there is a dispute over the meaning of an equal opportunity to elect candidates of choice. House Speaker Pro Tempore Chris Pringle, who serves as co-chairman of the state redistricting committee, highlighted this during a public hearing, stating that the interpretation of this concept is not clear.
Supreme Court Decision and Voting Rights
The U.S. Supreme Court recently affirmed a lower-court ruling that found Alabama likely violated the Voting Rights Act with its congressional map. The three-judge panel has given Alabama until Friday to adopt a new map and submit it for review. The panel emphasized the need for a congressional redistricting plan that includes either an additional majority-black district or a district where black voters have an opportunity to elect a representative of their choice.
This decision has been celebrated by voting rights groups, who believe it will give black voters a greater voice in the state.
Partisan Politics and Redistricting Fight
The looming redistricting fight in Alabama is driven by partisan politics. Republicans, who dominate elective office in the state, have been resistant to creating a second district with a Democratic-leaning black majority. On the other hand, Democrats see the possibility of gaining a seat or at least a swing district in the GOP-dominated state.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, representing the state in the redistricting lawsuit, has expressed concerns about the plaintiffs’ demands for guaranteed Democratic victories in at least two districts. He argues that the redraw congressional districts, proposed map to be released Monday.”>proposed map divides voters based on stereotypes about how voters of certain races will vote.
Joe Reed, chairman of the Alabama Democratic Conference, has urged lawmakers to compromise with the plaintiffs on a plan. He believes that there will be two majority-black districts in the final map.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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