Republican lawmakers in Alabama made the decision on Friday to increase the representation of Black voters in the state’s second district from 31% to 40%, rather than creating a Black majority district, in response to a recent Supreme Court ruling. The court upheld a lower court ruling that mandated the creation of a second majority-Black district so that Black voters have a fair chance to elect their preferred representatives. Alabama currently only has one majority-Black district out of seven, despite Black people accounting for 27% of the state’s population.
Republicans argued that the new district map complies with the court order because it increases Black influence. However, critics argue that this decision harkens back to the era of Jim Crow laws, which were used to suppress the Black vote. They claim that the new map effectively ensures that only White Republicans can win the district, making it virtually impossible for a Democrat or a minority candidate to be elected.
Governor Kay Ivey signed the bill late on Friday, despite the plaintiffs in the Supreme Court case accusing the Alabama Legislature of disregarding the Voting Rights Act and the court’s decision. They have vowed to continue fighting if the map is passed.
State Senator Rodger Smitherman, a Democrat, believes that the state Republicans are hoping for a favorable Supreme Court decision in the future, as the court narrowly voted 5-4 against the state. Concerns about voter representation were raised during the debate, with one Democratic representative pointing out that the minority population feels that their votes don’t count because they are always in the numerical minority.
The debate in Alabama has drawn attention nationwide and could set a precedent for similar fights in states like Louisiana, Georgia, Texas, and others.
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