The Supreme Court has rejected Alabama’s request to block a lower court ruling that found the state’s congressional district map violated the Voting Rights Act. This decision deals a major setback to Republicans’ efforts to limit Black voting power in the Deep South state.
Why Was Alabama’s Map Considered Problematic?
Experts argued that Alabama’s map packed Black voters into a single district despite them making up 27% of the population, diluting their overall influence. The lower court found this likely amounted to unconstitutional racial gerrymandering to benefit white Republicans.
While states can consider race in redistricting, it cannot be the predominant factor or override traditional redistricting criteria like compactness and continuity of communities. Civil rights groups said Alabama ignored these principles to curb Black political power.
What Does This Ruling Mean?
The Supreme Court’s refusal to intervene means Alabama must now redraw its districts under the supervision of a special master appointed by the lower court. This will likely result in at least one additional majority-Black district being carved out.
Critically, it sets an important precedent that overt racial gerrymandering will not be tolerated, even as the conservative-majority Supreme Court sets the bar high for voting rights challenges. Experts say this will impact similar ongoing cases in Southern states.
Reaction From Voters’ Rights Groups
Voting rights advocates hailed the decision as a victory. “It has been a long battle but today is rewarding. We look forward to a new era with fairer representation,” said Deuel Ross of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, which represented plaintiffs.
Khalilah Brown-Dean of the BREATHE Act Coalition called the ruling “a step towards dismantling systemic racism in elections.” Another plaintiffs’ attorney noted “this outcome affirms that courts will scrutinize maps weaponizing race to entrench one-party rule.”
What’s Next in Alabama?
Governor Kay Ivey said the state is assessing its options but signaled they may draw new district boundaries compliant with the court order. The special master will hold public hearings to gather input. Final maps are expected before the 2024 election cycle.
The decision is a major victory for voting rights in Alabama. It proves that aggressive gerrymandering to curb the influence of Black voters will continue facing legal challenges. Fairer representation may finally come to a state with a long history of racial discrimination in elections.
The Supreme Court has rejected Alabama’s request to block a lower court ruling that found the state’s congressional district map violated the Voting Rights Act. This decision deals a major setback to Republicans’ efforts to limit Black voting power in the Deep South state.
Why Was Alabama’s Map Considered Problematic?
Experts argued that Alabama’s map packed Black voters into a single district despite them making up 27% of the population, diluting their overall influence. The lower court found this likely amounted to unconstitutional racial gerrymandering to benefit white Republicans.
While states can consider race in redistricting, it cannot be the predominant factor or override traditional redistricting criteria like compactness and continuity of communities. Civil rights groups said Alabama ignored these principles to curb Black political power.
What Does This Ruling Mean?
The Supreme Court’s refusal to intervene means Alabama must now redraw its districts under the supervision of a special master appointed by the lower court. This will likely result in at least one additional majority-Black district being carved out.
Critically, it sets an important precedent that overt racial gerrymandering will not be tolerated, even as the conservative-majority Supreme Court sets the bar high for voting rights challenges. Experts say this will impact similar ongoing cases in Southern states.
Reaction From Voters’ Rights Groups
Voting rights advocates hailed the decision as a victory. “It has been a long battle but today is rewarding. We look forward to a new era with fairer representation,” said Deuel Ross of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, which represented plaintiffs.
Khalilah Brown-Dean of the BREATHE Act Coalition called the ruling “a step towards dismantling systemic racism in elections.” Another plaintiffs’ attorney noted “this outcome affirms that courts will scrutinize maps weaponizing race to entrench one-party rule.”
What’s Next in Alabama?
Governor Kay Ivey said the state is assessing its options but signaled they may draw new district boundaries compliant with the court order. The special master will hold public hearings to gather input. Final maps are expected before the 2024 election cycle.
The decision is a major victory for voting rights in Alabama. It proves that aggressive gerrymandering to curb the influence of Black voters will continue facing legal challenges. Fairer representation may finally come to a state with a long history of racial discrimination in elections.
