U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Allows Drawing of Alabama Congressional Map to Move Forward
MONTGOMERY, Ala.聽鈥斅燭oday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the Alabama Attorney General鈥檚 request to delay the rollout of the state's new court-ordered congressional map, which could have endangered its timely implementation for the 2024 elections. This is the latest development in the聽聽case, where the Supreme Court affirmed a lower court鈥檚 ruling that Alabama鈥檚 2021 congressional map likely violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting Black voters' voices in Alabama congressional elections. The case also required the creation of a second 鈥渙pportunity district鈥� for Black voters.
鈥淭he U.S. Supreme Court saw through the Alabama Legislature鈥檚 attempt to further disenfranchise thousands of Black voters by drawing maps that dilute their voice. This decision mirrors the rulings throughout our state鈥檚 history that, unfortunately, have far too often been necessary for Black voters to get what the Voting Rights Act has mandated,鈥� says聽Jerome Dees, Alabama policy director for the Southern Poverty Law Center. 鈥淭oday鈥檚 ruling is a victory, not only for Black Alabamians but all who believe in equal representation and free and fair elections.鈥�
