Federal judges in Alabama announced on Tuesday that they will be taking matters into their own hands and drawing new congressional lines for the state. This decision comes after Alabama lawmakers refused to create a second district that would provide Black voters with a fair chance of electing their preferred candidates, as recommended by the court.
The three-judge panel has also blocked the use of the state’s recently drawn congressional map in next year’s elections. Instead, a special master will be appointed to create new districts for Alabama. It is anticipated that Alabama will appeal this decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Earlier this summer, the Republican-controlled Alabama Legislature hastily drew new lines after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the panel’s finding that the previous map, which only had one majority-Black district out of seven, likely violated the U.S. Voting Rights Act. The three-judge panel emphasized the need for two districts where Black voters have a fair opportunity to elect their preferred candidates, considering the racially polarized voting in the state.
In July, Alabama lawmakers passed a new map that maintained a single majority-Black district and increased the percentage of Black voters in another district. However, the judges expressed deep concern that the state disregarded their finding and did not create the additional district or provide Black voters with a reasonable chance to elect representatives of their choice.
During the hearing, the judges questioned the state’s solicitor general about the decision to ignore their instructions for a second majority-Black district. The state argued that the map adhered to the Voting Rights Act and the Supreme Court’s decision, claiming that the creation of a second majority-Black district would conflict with traditional redistricting principles.
One of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs argued that Alabama showed defiance instead of compliance and urged the judges to reject the state’s map, stating that Alabama chose to disregard the court and its own Black citizens.
In conclusion, the federal judges have stepped in to address the lack of a fair electoral plan for Black voters in Alabama. They have deemed the state’s map inadequate and will establish new congressional lines to ensure that Black voters have a genuine opportunity to elect their preferred candidates. Alabama’s refusal to create a second majority-Black district has prompted this intervention, which may have far-reaching implications for future elections in the state.
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