Dothan, Ala. — A federal panel of judges ruled Thursday that Alabama’s newly drawn congressional map intentionally diluted the voting strength of Black residents, reaffirming the state’s violation of the Voting Rights Act. The decision ensures that the state will continue using a court-ordered map implemented for the 2024 elections, which helped elect Alabama’s second Black congressman for the first time in history.
The three-judge panel permanently blocked Alabama from using the 2023 congressional map, concluding that it unlawfully consolidated Black voters into just one majority-Black district, thereby reducing their political influence across the state. This ruling marks a continuation of the judges’ previous decisions, which found the state’s redistricting efforts to be discriminatory and non-compliant with federal law.
In a sharply worded opinion, the judges condemned the Alabama Legislature for deliberately disregarding federal court orders to create a second district where Black voters could elect a candidate of their choosing. “The 2023 Plan unlawfully dilutes Black voting strength by consigning it to one majority-Black district,” the ruling stated, noting that a second district with a substantial percentage of Black voters was not only necessary but required under the Voting Rights Act.
The ruling follows a lengthy legal battle that began in 2021, when Black voters and civil rights organizations filed a lawsuit against Alabama’s congressional map. The plaintiffs argued that Black voters, who make up approximately 27% of the state’s population, were unfairly packed into a single district, while other Black communities were split into districts where their influence was diminished. Prior to the court-imposed changes, Alabama’s congressional delegation included only one Black representative, despite the state’s sizable Black population.
Deuel Ross, deputy director of litigation at the Legal Defense Fund, praised the ruling as a victory for Black voters in Alabama, emphasizing the persistence of those who fought for political equality. “Today’s decision is a testament to the persistence and resilience of Black voters in Alabama, including our clients,” Ross said. “Alabama’s unprecedented defiance of the Supreme Court and the lower court orders harkens back to the darkest days of American history.”
In response to the ruling, Alabama’s Attorney General Steve Marshall’s office has yet to issue a formal statement, but it is expected that the state will appeal the decision. Judges also scheduled a hearing for plaintiffs’ request to reimpose the preclearance requirement of the Voting Rights Act, which would subject Alabama’s future redistricting plans to federal oversight.
The case, which has spanned years of legal challenges, represents a larger ongoing struggle in the South and across the U.S. over racial gerrymandering. The case is part of a broader national conversation on fair representation and the rights of minority communities in the redistricting process.
In the 2024 elections, Alabama’s new map helped elect U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures to the 2nd Congressional District, making him the state’s second Black congressman. Figures’ election marked a historic shift, reflecting the potential impact of fairer districts on the state’s political landscape.
Civil rights groups and plaintiffs hailed the court’s decision, calling it “a testament to the dedication and persistence of many generations of Black Alabamians who pursued political equality at great cost.” As the state prepares for future elections, the ruling may serve as a critical moment in the broader fight for voting rights and representation in Alabama and across the country.
