A three-judge federal court will rule shortly on which congressional map Alabama will use in next year’s election, after ruling the state should have a second district with a substantial percentage of Black voters.More than two years have passed since lawsuits were first filed claiming Alabama’s congressional map violated the Voting Rights Act.After a three-judge court ruled the map passed by the state legislature in July failed to fix a likely violation, arguments were made Tuesday for which of the three maps drawn by an appointed special master will best serve Alabamians. Attorneys representing plaintiffs argued map one or three drawn by the special master best create an opportunity district for black voters. Attorneys for the secretary of state objected to all three maps but most extremely to map one. Some left the courtroom thinking the judges will settle on the map with the most consensus, map three. “We believe that map three will likely be the map chosen by the three-judge panel,” Democratic state House Minority Leader Rep. Anthony Daniels said. “This will give African Americans an opportunity to elect their candidate of choice.”Still, others left believing none of the options are fair. “The special master was concerned about making a plan as white as possible,” said Joe Reed, with the Alabama Democratic Conference. As the lawsuits are only in the preliminary injunction stage, there will still be a trial in 2025. However, this doesn’t stop the map passed by the court from being used in next year’s election. “We didn’t do all of this work to then go into the election cycle and sit at home,” Plaintiff Evan Milligan said. “We need people to go out, register to vote, and show up to vote.”Some lawmakers are already eyeing a run in District 2, including Democratic state Sen. Merika Coleman. “I’m taking a strong look at an opportunity to represent the citizens of Congressional District 2,” Coleman said. “If we decide to do that, it’s for the citizens of Alabama in this fight for democracy, to save democracy in this country.”However, plaintiffs fear the state will not be backing down on their objection to the proposed maps on the basis of gerrymandering. “I do know the states appeared to be less vocal today,” Rep. Anthony Daniels said. “Which leads me to believe that they will look at an angle to appeal the case.”The state requested a decision from the three-judge court by Tuesday or Wednesday so they can begin reassigning voters. A judge on the court said they will issue a ruling shortly.
A three-judge federal court will rule shortly on which congressional map Alabama will use in next year’s election, after ruling the state should have a second district with a substantial percentage of Black voters.
More than two years have passed since lawsuits were first filed claiming Alabama’s congressional map violated the Voting Rights Act.
After a three-judge court ruled the map passed by the state legislature in July failed to fix a likely violation, arguments were made Tuesday for which of the three maps drawn by an appointed special master will best serve Alabamians.
Attorneys representing plaintiffs argued map one or three drawn by the special master best create an opportunity district for black voters.
Attorneys for the secretary of state objected to all three maps but most extremely to map one.
Some left the courtroom thinking the judges will settle on the map with the most consensus, map three.
“We believe that map three will likely be the map chosen by the three-judge panel,” Democratic state House Minority Leader Rep. Anthony Daniels said. “This will give African Americans an opportunity to elect their candidate of choice.”
Still, others left believing none of the options are fair.
“The special master was concerned about making a plan as white as possible,” said Joe Reed, with the Alabama Democratic Conference.
As the lawsuits are only in the preliminary injunction stage, there will still be a trial in 2025. However, this doesn’t stop the map passed by the court from being used in next year’s election.
“We didn’t do all of this work to then go into the election cycle and sit at home,” Plaintiff Evan Milligan said. “We need people to go out, register to vote, and show up to vote.”
Some lawmakers are already eyeing a run in District 2, including Democratic state Sen. Merika Coleman.
“I’m taking a strong look at an opportunity to represent the citizens of Congressional District 2,” Coleman said. “If we decide to do that, it’s for the citizens of Alabama in this fight for democracy, to save democracy in this country.”
However, plaintiffs fear the state will not be backing down on their objection to the proposed maps on the basis of gerrymandering.
“I do know the states appeared to be less vocal today,” Rep. Anthony Daniels said. “Which leads me to believe that they will look at an angle to appeal the case.”
The state requested a decision from the three-judge court by Tuesday or Wednesday so they can begin reassigning voters.
A judge on the court said they will issue a ruling shortly.
