A panel of Alabama lawmakers approved a proposed new congressional district map during a contentious meeting Monday, with the Republican majority passing the plan by a vote of 14-6 over opposition from Democrats.
|A congressional district map favored by the Republican co-chairs of the Alabama Legislature's reapportionment committee.
On the “community of interest” plan, District 7 would remain the only majority Black district, with a Black voting age population of 51.55%, which would be down from 57.07% on the current map. District 2 would have the second highest percentage of Black voting age population, at 42.45%. That is up from 31.86% on the current map.
Democrats on the committee said they lacked key information on the plan, including a report on voting history that would show more accurately whether Black voters would have a realistic chance to elect a candidate in District 2. Smitherman said he doubted the court would accept the “community of interest” plan would satisfy the court mandate of creating a opportunity district for Black voters in District 2.
“I don’t understand why it wouldn’t have been presented well in advance to give it time to get that analysis done, to give it also time for sunlight on it for people to vet it, look at it, ask questions about it,” England said. “We don’t even know if it works. And that’s how terrible this process was. The public did not get an opportunity to vet the map that passed today that we don’t even know satisfies the court ruling.
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