The Alabama attorney general’s office says it opposes all three congressional maps proposed by a court-appointed special master as federal judges begin drawing new lines to create a second majority-Black district in the state or something close to it.
The U.S. Supreme Court will allow the drawing of a new Alabama congressional map with greater representation for Black voters to proceed.
A three-judge panel refused Monday to pause an order to draw new congressional districts in Alabama while the state pursues another round of appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The state is expected to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Federal judges reviewing Alabama’s new congressional map on Monday sharply questioned if state lawmakers ignored the court’s directive to create a second-majority Black district, or something close to it.
The fight over whether Alabama’s congressional map complies with the Voting Rights Act now shifts back to federal court as the new plan goes before the same three-judge panel that struck down the previous districts.
On the eve of a court deadline, Alabama lawmakers were still divided Thursday over the map designating new congressional districts and sparred over what constitutes an “opportunity” district that the state was ordered to create for Black voters.
Alabama legislators will hold their first meeting next week to determine what the state’s new congressional map should look like after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the state unlawfully dilutes the power of Black voters.
Alabama lawmakers appear to have only until July 21 to adopt new congressional districts before the 2024 elections.
The Alabama Republican Party has released a statement on the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that says Alabama’s congressional district maps violate the Voting Rights Act.
