Voting Rights Act
U.S. Supreme Court rejects Alabama’s request to stay redistricting decision
The United States Supreme Court Tuesday denied Alabama’s request to stay a lower court decision directing a special master to draw new state congressional maps to remedy Voting Rights Act violations. The nation’s high court dismissed the request in two one-sentence orders Tuesday morning. No opinions were given with the decision, which could open the […]
Alabama congressional map: Federal court won’t let state relitigate Voting Rights Act
The court overseeing a challenge to Alabama’s congressional map said Tuesday it would not allow the state to relitigate whether the state’s prior map violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. At a Monday morning status conference, attorneys with the Alabama attorney general’s office suggested they wanted to challenge earlier parts of the case, […]
The Alabama Legislature dances back into federal court
A few weeks ago, my wife and I learned to dance the foxtrot. That’s a century-old step that (as taught to us) is pretty basic. Take your partner’s hand and put your other hand on your partner’s waist. If you’re the lead, take two steps forward. If you’re not, take two steps back. Step to […]
Alabama Legislature passes controversial congressional map
The Alabama Legislature Friday afternoon approved a congressional map that would lower the percentage of Alabama’s current majority-Black district and create a district in southeast Alabama that would be nearly 40% Black. The proposed map passed the House on a 75-28 vote Friday after it passed the Senate 24-6. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed the […]
Alabama Legislature nears final vote on controversial congressional maps
The Alabama Legislature appears headed to a conference committee over new congressional maps ordered by a federal court. House and Senate committees Thursday voted to replace the other chamber’s proposals with their preferred plans. If the maps pass the legislative bodies on Friday, they can be referred to conference committees. “That’s just how the process […]
Alabama House passes new congressional map over Democratic objections
The Alabama House Wednesday approved a new congressional map that would create a majority-Black district and one with 42% Black population after a four-hour debate that featured steady and often sharp criticism from Democrats. The map passed the Republican-controlled chamber on a 74-27 vote. Reps. Ivan Smith, R-Clanton and Rep. Rhett Marques, R-Enterprise, both abstained. […]
Federal court sets July 21 deadline for Alabama Legislature to draw new congressional maps
The Alabama Legislature will have until July 21 to draw a second congressional district where “Black voters either comprise a voting-age majority or something quite close to it,” in compliance with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last week in Allen v. Milligan. The deadline was set at a Friday status conference on the case. U.S. […]