Alabama mandated to persist with existing electoral districts until 2030 redistricting process

Alabama mandated to persist with existing electoral districts until 2030 redistricting process

In a significant ruling, a panel of federal judges in the Northern District of Alabama has ordered Alabama to continue using the current Congressional districts, which were drawn by a special master, until new maps are created based on the 2030 Census. This court-imposed map, used in the 2024 elections, produced historic results, including the election of two Black representatives to Congress from Alabama for the first time.

The court's decision, announced in the Milligan v. Allen case, declined to reinstate preclearance—a requirement under Section 3(c) of the Voting Rights Act that would force Alabama to obtain federal approval before making any voting changes. The judges maintained jurisdiction over the case until the injunction expires after the 2030 Census, meaning Alabama cannot change its congressional districts without court oversight until then, but it does not face the full scope of preclearance restrictions.

The current court-enforced map respects Alabama’s diverse communities, including the historically significant Black Belt region, ensuring Black voters retain a fair chance to elect candidates of their choice. This is consistent with the district court's earlier findings that Alabama's 2023 legislative map was enacted with discriminatory intent, violating both the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act.

This case reflects ongoing tensions surrounding the Voting Rights Act’s enforcement after the 2013 Shelby v. Holder Supreme Court decision eliminated the nationwide preclearance formula. Milligan v. Allen demonstrates how the VRA’s Section 2 protections continue to provide remedies for vote dilution, even as preclearance faces legal and political challenges.

In summary, Alabama must use the court-drawn map from 2023 through the 2030 election cycle. No reimposition of preclearance was mandated, though the court retains oversight. The case underscores the importance and limits of the VRA in combating racial discrimination in voting post-Shelby. New maps based on the 2030 Census must be submitted to and approved by the court before being used.

This ongoing judicial oversight ensures protections against discriminatory redistricting in Alabama but also highlights the fragile state of the Voting Rights Act’s enforcement mechanisms in the current legal climate. The state and plaintiffs will have to submit briefs on whether the case should be heard for the third time by the Supreme Court in the next few months.

Chance Phillips is a reporter who can be reached at cphillips@our website.

Sources:

1. Alabama Must Use Court-Drawn Congressional Districts Until 2030
2. The Voting Rights Act and the Fragile State of Enforcement
3. Milligan v. Allen: Court-Imposed Maps and the Future of Alabama's Congressional Districts
4. Alabama's Congressional Districts Remain Under Court Oversight
5. Plaintiffs Excited as Court Orders Alabama to Continue Using Special Master Map
6. Defendants Respond to Court's Decision in Milligan v. Allen
7. Judges Decline to Replace Preclearance in Milligan v. Allen Case
8. Supreme Court Appeal Filed in Milligan v. Allen Case
9. Judge Terry Moorer's Response to Plaintiffs' Request for Preclearance
10. Milligan v. Allen: Court Declares Legislature's Attempt to Adopt Another Plan Discriminatory
11. Plaintiffs' Lawyers Argue for Preclearance in Milligan v. Allen

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