The new map puts Democrats in a position to pick up a House seat next November.
Share on linkedin President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund Janai Nelson speaks to members of the press after the oral argument of the Merrill v. Milligan case at the U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 4, 2022. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Imagesthat expands the voting power of Black residents in the state.and puts Democrats in a position to pick up a House seat next November as they vie to reclaim the majority in the closely divided chamber.
"This long and arduous battle over Alabama's congressional map serves as a solemn reminder that efforts to deny fair representation to Black and minority voters are still alive and well," said Rep. Terri Sewell , the state's only Black lawmaker.A panel of judges approved a map that includes a majority Black district, as well as a district that is about 49% Black, in response to concerns about the state's Black vote being suppressed.
The Supreme Court ruled in June that Black Alabama residents were underrepresented in Congress because the state was in violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The landmark Civil Rights law requires districts that provide minority voters with "an equal opportunity to participate in the political process."
Black residents make up roughly 30% of Alabama's population but the state only had one majority Black district, which is represented by Sewell, the state's only Democrat in Congress.A federal court got involved in the case after the Supreme Court ruling because the state's Republican lawmakers refused to approve a map that significantly expanded Black residents' voting power.submitted a map that Democrats sharply criticized.
A three-judge panel rejected that map in August and decided to appoint a special master to approve a new map that was in compliance with the Supreme Court ruling."Allen v. Milligan has delivered a long-awaited victory for our democracy," said Janai Nelson, president of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., a civil rights organization that joined in the lawsuit challenging the map.
Norge Siste Nytt, Norge Overskrifter
Similar News:Du kan også lese nyheter som ligner på denne som vi har samlet inn fra andre nyhetskilder.
Alabama gets court-ordered congressional map with a second Black districtJane C. Timm is a senior reporter for NBC News.
Les mer »
Court Approves New Map Giving Black Alabama Voters More RepresentationA special master team redrew congressional boundaries after the GOP-run state legislature twice refused to do so.
Les mer »
Judges aiming to give Black voters more influence in Alabama set to redraw congressional districtsA federal judge says the court will swiftly adopt new congressional map for Alabama after ruling the state should have a second district with a substantial percentage of Black voters.
Les mer »
Black voting power gets boost in Alabama as new US House districts chosen by federal judgesFederal judges have selected new congressional lines for Alabama ensuring a second district where Black voters comprise a substantial portion of the electorate.
Les mer »
Black voting power gets boost in Alabama as new US House districts chosen by federal judgesFederal judges have selected new congressional lines for Alabama ensuring a second district where Black voters comprise a substantial portion of the electorate
Les mer »