FOLLOW US

Alabama GOP Gov. Kay Ivey has signed off on a controversial congressional map that includes only one majority-Black district, despite a court mandate for a redraw favoring two such districts, or at the very least, a close equivalent.

GOP Legislature vs Federal Courts

The Republican-dominated legislature in Alabama passed the remedial map shortly before a court-decreed deadline on Friday, with a federal court review set for mid-August. "Our state's legislature knows our people and our districts better than the federal courts or activist groups, and I am delighted they addressed the issue and produced new districts before the court's deadline," Alabama GOP Gov. Ivey announced in a statement.

Against the backdrop of zero Democratic support, the legislature endorsed a remedial map featuring a single congressional district with a roughly 50% Black voting-age population and another with an approximate 40% Black voting-age populace.

The 'Livingston 3' map, dubbed as a "compromise" by the Republican leadership, was the outcome of a Friday afternoon conference committee, following divergent versions previously approved by the two chambers.

The Controversy Around Districts

Under the new map, District 7, currently represented by Democratic Congresswoman Terri Sewell, remains Alabama's only majority-Black congressional district. However, the district witnesses a drop in its Black voting-age population from 55.6% to 50.65%. Data provided by the legislature shows a proposed increase in the Black voting-age population for District 2 in southeastern Alabama, but only to 39.93%.

Democrats lambasted Republicans for disregarding a directive from a three-judge panel that insisted on two districts where Black voters comprise a voting-age majority or something quite similar. "There was no intention in this building to comply with their court order," stated state Rep. Chris England, a Tuscaloosa Democrat.

The Aftermath of the 2020 Census

Following the 2020 census, Alabama implemented a congressional map featuring just one Black majority district out of its seven, despite Black voters making up 27% of the state's population. This map was invalidated when a three-judge federal district court found it likely violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, as it offered Black voters "less opportunity than other Alabamians to elect candidates of their choice to Congress."

The court directed Alabama to redraw its map to provide Black voters a fair opportunity to elect their preferred candidate. State GOP lawmakers have defended the redrawn lines, asserting that they provide the opportunity for minority voters to elect a representative of their choice in two districts. However, voting rights advocates dispute this claim based on models using the three map version finalists.

Future Prospects

Despite the uproar, state GOP lawmakers displayed interest in the remedial map drawing process, with support from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California and Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville. Those who challenged the current map pledged to combat the new version too. They have until July 28 to submit their objections. The state then has until August 4 to respond, followed by a federal court hearing on August 14 to consider the objections.

A collective of civil rights groups and individuals expressed their dissatisfaction in a statement, saying, "The Alabama Legislature believes it is above the law. They continue to ignore constituents' pleas to ensure the map is fair and remain determined to rob Black voters of the representation we deserve. We won't let that happen.”