Majority Republican lawmakers in Alabama have faced criticism from Democrats for not sharing their plans for redrawing the state’s congressional districts. This comes ahead of a special session on redistricting next week. Democratic Representative Chris England expressed concerns about the lack of public scrutiny and transparency in the process. He emphasized that such an important task, influenced by a Supreme Court decision, should be done openly. The state has until July 21 to adopt a new congressional map after it was found that the current plan potentially violated the Voting Rights Act. Alabama lawmakers will meet on Monday to vote on the proposed map.
While Alabama Democrats accuse Republicans of secrecy, House Speaker Pro Tempore Chris Pringle stated that they are working as quickly as possible and will share the proposed map with committee members before the Monday meeting. Currently, Alabama only has one majority-Black district out of seven, despite having a significant Black population. The court ruled that the state should have at least two districts with a substantial number of Black voters. Although Republicans have the necessary votes to approve a plan without Democratic support, they risk the court stepping in if the plan deviates too much from its expectations.
The group of Black voters who won the Supreme Court case urged committee members to adopt their proposed map, which would create an “opportunity” district giving Black voters a better chance of electing a candidate of their choice. This district would encompass certain counties and parts of Mobile County. Some plaintiffs pointed out that their communities had been ignored by the current Republican representatives.
The legislative committee is divided on how to reconfigure the map. Senator Vivian Davis Figures plans to introduce the plaintiffs’ map, as it aligns with the court’s instructions. On the other hand, Senator Rodger Smitherman supports a rival proposal that includes all of Jefferson County, home to Birmingham, in the 6th Congressional District. Smitherman believes this racially diverse district offers a good opportunity for a Democrat to be elected.
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