Federal court: Alabama can use State Senate map passed in 2021

2021 State Senate District Map./Source: Office of Governor Kay Ivey

ATLANTA, Ga. (WAKA) – The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals stayed a recent ruling that barred Alabama from using a State Senate map passed in 2021.

The ruling issued by U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco last week said the State of Alabama could not use the 2021 State Senate redistricting map, but the federal court ruled in favor of the state’s request to stay an injunction on the map.

The recent development only impacts two districts, Senate District 25 and Senate District 26. Those districts cover portions of Montgomery, Crenshaw and Elmore counties.

In light of the ruling, Governor Kay Ivey has called a special session for those races, which makes the results from the May 19 primaries now void.

Sen. Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road), who is currently in District 25, and Sen. Kirk Hatcher (D-Montgomery), who is in District 26, were originally planning to swap districts when the new maps were introduced.

Now that the state is going back to the old maps, both men say they are planning to seek re-election in their current seats.

The primary special election will take place on Tuesday, August 11. There will be no runoff in the elections. The winners will move on to the general election on November 3.

Qualifying for both districts will start Tuesday, June 2 at 8:00 a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m. that same day.

The primary special election for Senate District 25 and District 26 will take place on the same day as the primary special election for U.S. Congressional Districts 1, 2, 6 and 7.