Federal Court Rules Alabama’s Electoral Map Discriminatory Against Black Voters
By Nate Raymond, Reuters
A federal court has ruled that Alabama’s Republican-led legislature deliberately discriminated against Black voters when it approved a new congressional map in 2023, maintaining only one majority-Black district. The three-judge panel issued a 571-page decision criticizing state lawmakers for creating a map that replicated a previous version deemed by both the panel and the U.S. Supreme Court to undermine Black voters’ power, violating the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
The judges expressed their dismay that instead of complying with a court order to draft a map featuring at least two majority-Black districts, the legislature "simply doubled down," choosing to pass a map that offered minimal representation for Black Alabamians. They noted this was an unprecedented response from a state legislature under such legal scrutiny.
Following an earlier injunction, the panel mandated that Alabama employ a court-approved map that included two majority-Black congressional districts for the 2024 election. As a result, voters made history by electing two Black representatives, Democrat Terri Sewell and Democrat Shomari Figures.
Lawyers representing Black voters argued for a broader reversal of the state’s map, and the court agreed, emphasizing violations not only of the Voting Rights Act but also of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Deuel Ross, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, hailed the ruling as a vital affirmation of voting rights for Black citizens in Alabama.
A spokesperson for Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall stated the office is reviewing the ruling and considering all available options. This landmark decision marks a significant moment in the ongoing struggle for equitable representation in Alabama politics.
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