The latest battle in the redistricting wars took another turn this week: On Tuesday, a panel of judges struck down Alabama’s latest congressional map since it did not follow a court order to comply with the Voting Rights Act.
The court’s decision is the latest in a war over a redistricting plan that could change the balance of power in the US House. The state had originally drawn a map in 2021 that denied Black voters the opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice in almost all of the districts, despite the fact that Black people make up 27 percent of the state’s voting-age population. In June, the Supreme Court, in Allen v. Milligan, upheld a trial court ruling striking down the map.
Then Alabama tried again — with a map that, like the 2021 version, still had only one district with a Black majority. According to the judges, Alabama was brazen in its attempt to move forward with the map: “The law requires the creation of an additional district that affords Black Alabamians, like everyone else, a fair and reasonable opportunity to elect candidates of their choice. The 2023 Plan plainly fails to do so.” The federal court has ordered a special master to draw three new potential maps to include two districts where Black voters can get the chance to elect candidates of their choice. The court will approve a new map in October.
Similar fights over congressional and legislative maps are playing out in states including Texas and Georgia. Alabama has already announced its plan to appeal the ruling.
I talked to Michael Li, counsel at the Brennan Center, an organization that tracks voting rights laws and violations, about what is next in the war and what it all means for next year’s elections and voters nationwide.
Fabiola Cineas
Why did a panel of three federal judges strike down Alabama’s latest congressional redistricting plan?
Michael Li
Alabama gave a middle finger to an earlier ruling of the district court and of the Supreme Court, which…
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