MONTGOMERY, Ala. >> As lawmakers in Alabama prepared to vote on new congressional districts, state Rep. Chris England highlighted the historical trend of change in the state only occurring through federal court order.
England, a Black lawmaker from Tuscaloosa, accused Republicans of disregarding a judicial mandate to create a second majority-Black district or something similar. He expressed hope that the federal court would once again intervene to force Alabama to do what is right.
The debate over Alabama’s congressional map and its compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 now returns to federal court. State Republicans have submitted their new plan to the same three-judge panel that struck down the previous districts.
The outcome of this case could have implications nationwide, as it reevaluates the requirements of the Voting Rights Act in the context of redistricting. Additionally, it could impact the partisan balance of power in Alabama’s congressional district during the 2024 elections.
Recently, Alabama lawmakers approved new district lines after a surprise ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. The ruling upheld a lower court’s decision that the state’s previous map, which included only one Black-majority district out of seven in a state with a 27% Black population, likely violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting the voting power of Black residents.
The new plan implemented by the Republican legislative supermajority aims to increase the percentage of Black voters in the majority-white 2nd Congressional District, currently represented by Republican Rep. Barry Moore. The plan also reduces the Black voting-age population in the state’s sole majority Black district, represented by Democratic Rep. Terri Sewell.
A group of voters who won the U.S. Supreme Court decision have announced their intention to challenge the new plan. The three-judge panel has scheduled a hearing on August 14th to review the plan and may ultimately appoint a special master to draw new district lines.
The plaintiffs released a statement criticizing the Alabama Legislature for disregarding the Voting Rights Act and previous court orders. They accused lawmakers of robbing Black voters of fair representation and expressed disappointment in their refusal to address constituents’ concerns.
Alabama will defend the new map by arguing that it complies with the court order and adheres to redistricting principles such as compactness and maintaining communities of interest.
State Attorney General Steve Marshall’s office stated, “Contrary to mainstream media talking points, the Supreme Court did not require Alabama to draw two majority-minority districts. Instead, the Court emphasized that the Voting Rights Act does not mandate the adoption of districts that violate traditional redistricting principles.”
In a letter to the state legislative redistricting committee, Marshall reiterated the argument that the plaintiffs are demanding a plan that guarantees Democratic victories in at least two districts. Republicans are taking a gamble, hoping that the court will accept their proposal or that the state will succeed in a subsequent round of appeals.
Republican Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Reed expressed confidence in the work done by the legislature, stating that it is now up to the courts to decide.
The three-judge panel that struck down Alabama’s previous map in 2022 called for the inclusion of a second majority-Black district or something similar, providing Black voters with meaningful opportunities to elect representatives of their choice. The definition of “opportunity” was a major point of contention during the legislative debate, with Democrats criticizing the GOP proposal for perpetuating white Republican control.
An analysis by The Associated Press indicates that the 2nd District map, approved on Friday, has consistently voted for Republicans in recent statewide elections. Donald Trump won the district by nearly 10 percentage points in the 2020 election.
Alabama was the setting for a court case that led to a Supreme Court decision effectively ending the requirement for pre-approval from the federal government, as outlined in the Voting Rights Act, before making changes to voting regulations. With the current dispute over the congressional map, some Alabama Democrats accuse Republicans of attempting to undermine the landmark civil rights law.
State Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton expressed disappointment in his colleagues who, he believes, are setting up the Voting Rights Act to be weakened.
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