Alabama's Republican-drafted congressional map was struck down on Tuesday for not creating a second district with sufficient Black representation
But the revised plan only included one majority-Black district, with a second district that had less than 50% Black residents -- prompting swift outcry from Democrats and advocates who said that flagrantly violated the court's instructions.
The federal ruling that originally struck down Alabama's map in 2022 ordered the Legislature to draw "two districts in which Black voters either comprise a voting-age majority or something quite close to it." About 27% of Alabama residents are Black, according to census data. Only one of its seven districts is represented by a Black lawmaker.
Marchers lead chants during the Black Voters Matter's 57th Selma to Montgomery march on March 9, 2022 in Selma, Ala.Defenders of the now-rejected map argued they had achieved "something quite close," as the court ordered. Under that plan, Black voters comprised 39.93% of Alabama's 2nd District and 50.65% of the 7th District.
The judges wrote that they were "deeply troubled" that Alabama lawmakers enacted a map that disregarded the findings in 2022."We are not aware of any other case in which a state legislature — faced with a federal court order declaring that its electoral plan unlawfully dilutes minority votes and requiring a plan that provides an additional opportunity district — responded with a plan that the state concedes does not provide that district," the judges wrote.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Judges reject Alabama's new congressional district map after lawmakers exclude 2nd Black majority districtFederal judges for a U.S. District Court in Alabama ruled against state lawmakers and rejected their congressional district that only included one Black-majority district.
Read more »
Alabama's congressional map illegally hurts Black voters, U.S. court rulesAlabama's Republican-drawn congressional map illegally dilutes Black residents' voting power, a panel of federal judges ruled on Tuesday, a boost for Democrats' chances to win back a U.S. House majority in the 2024 election.
Read more »
Federal court rejects Alabama's congressional map, will draw new districts to boost Black voting powerA three-judge panel has blocked Alabama's new congressional map after lawmakers failed to create a second district where Black voters at least came close to comprising a majority, as suggested by the court.
Read more »
Court strikes down Alabama congressional map for diluting the power of Black votersThe ruling comes after Alabama Republicans created a new congressional map that defied a Supreme Court order.
Read more »
Federal court throws out Alabama's congressional map again for diluting Black voting powerMONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A three-judge panel has ordered a special master to draw new congressional districts for Alabama.This is a developing story that will be
Read more »
Court orders new election map in Alabama after lawmakers defy Supreme CourtA three-judge panel from a federal district court in Alabama ruled Tuesday a special master must step in and draw a new congressional map since the state Legislature defied the Supreme Court and refused to add a second majority Black district to its 2023 plan.
Read more »