MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WHNT) — Will the fate of Alabama’s congressional map come down to one Supreme Court decision?
The highest court in the land heard a Louisiana redistricting case today, and leaders talked about whether the ruling will impact maps in other states like Alabama.
A court found earlier this year that a map drawn by Alabama lawmakers in 2023 violated the Voting Rights Act. The state has since appealed that decision, and other states like Louisiana are making similar arguments about how voting laws apply when redrawing maps.
Davin Rosborough with the ACLU Voting Rights Project explained Alabama’s 2023 map was enacted with racially discriminatory intent, violating the Fourteenth Amendment. Regardless of what happens in Louisiana, Rosborough says he is confident this ruling will stand, supporting the Voting Rights Act.
“And without it, a lot of gains that have been made in Alabama, in Louisiana, not just in the South but in other parts of the country as well would not have been made,” said Rosborough. He explained how Alabama’s case is different than that of the one in Louisiana.
In all these cases, former Secretary of State John Merrill said many factors should be considered when it comes to drawing state maps. He explained that people are no longer bound to a specific location like they were years ago and can live anywhere they choose.
“You don’t have that today- and since you don’t have it, it makes it more difficult,” said Merrill. “You have to gerrymander those seats in order to get the representation that people are seeking. And that’s not helpful to anybody or any constituency.”
Merrill said states like California count noncitizens in their apportionment, making representation unique in every state.
“Each of those amendments that have been passed to the Constitution were all passed at their time,” he said. “If we need adjustments to the document, or we need adjustments to the amendments, we need to address those formally.”
Rosborough said the U.S. Supreme Court could decide on hearing Alabama’s case in November at the earliest. If they decide to hear Alabama’s appeal, it could go before Justices sometime next year.
“Our multiracial democracy is fragile. Section Two is a key bulwark in protecting that,” said Rosborough.
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