Alabama rushes to adopt new congressional map amid disagreement on what district should look like

Alabama is rushing to create a new congressional map following a federal court order which states the need for a second district where the majority of voters are Black or a close approximation. However, the exact makeup of this map is under debate as legislators scramble to design it.

A special session is set to occur on Monday where Alabama lawmakers will strive to finalize a new map by the end of the week, as per the court’s directive. This instruction came in response to an unexpected decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that backed a lower court’s ruling. The Supreme Court affirmed that Alabama’s current congressional map, with only one Black majority district, likely infringes on the Voting Rights Act.

The plaintiffs, a group of voters who sued the state and triumphed at the Supreme Court, are proposing the creation of a second district with a Black majority population of 50.5%. However, Alabama Republicans, who hold significant majority in the Alabama Legislature and control the redistricting process, have not agreed to form another majority-Black district. They are suggesting districts with lower percentages of Black voters. The Republican-drafted map proposal will be released on Monday.

House Speaker Pro Tempore Chris Pringle, the co-chairman of the state redistricting committee, noted during a public hearing on Thursday that even among the plaintiffs, there is disagreement about the definition of an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision upheld a lower court’s ruling that Alabama likely violated the Voting Rights Act due to having only one majority-Black district out of seven, in a state where more than a quarter of residents are Black. The judges granted Alabama until Friday to adopt and submit a new map for review.

Proponents of voting rights celebrated the Supreme Court’s decision, as they believe it will increase Black voters’ influence in the southern state.

The ruling has significant implications for Alabama, as it will lead to the state’s most considerable reshaping of congressional districts since 1992. That year, a court order required Alabama to create its first majority-Black district, leading to the state electing its first Black member of Congress since the Reconstruction era. This district has consistently been represented by a Black Democrat since then.

The imminent redistricting battle is underpinned by partisan politics. Alabama Republicans, who predominantly hold public office, have shown resistance to creating another Democratic-leaning district with a majority of Black voters that could potentially send another Democrat to Congress. However, Democrats are optimistic about the chance of gaining a seat or at least a competitive district in the Republican stronghold.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall criticized the plaintiffs’ demand for a map that guarantees Democratic victories in at least two districts, stating that their proposed map seems to stereotype voters based on race.

Joe Reed, the chairman of the Alabama Democratic Conference, encouraged lawmakers to collaborate with plaintiffs on a redistricting plan. He emphasized that if the state’s lawmakers do not create a plan that the court approves, the court will develop the plan for them. “We know there will be two majority Black districts,” Reed stated.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Alabama Congressional Redistricting

More about Alabama Congressional Redistricting

• The Voting Rights Act of 1965
• U.S. Supreme Court
• Understanding Redistricting
• Reconstruction era
• Alabama Legislature