A Victory for Black Voters as Court Approves Special Master’s Maps in Alabama

Brian Beihl

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 10, 2023

Map: U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

A Victory for Black Voters as Court Approves Special Master’s Maps in Alabama
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

In a victory for Alabama’s Black voters, a federal appeals court chose a new Congressional voting district map with two districts where Black voters finally have a reasonable chance at electing the candidate of their choice.

This concludes a three-year redistricting process, a U.S. Supreme Court case, defiance by the State of Alabama, and finally a court-mandated map.
June’s Milligan decision mandated two of seven districts be majority-minority Black districts, or “something quite like it.”

Of the three options created by an independent special master, Remedial Plan 3 was chosen as best in retaining Black voting power. It includes one district which is 51.9% Black voters, and one with 48.7%, compared with the State’s rejected remedial maps of 50.65% and 40%. The new map will be in place for the 2024 election, and will likely impact control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Still defiant, Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen said, “The Office of the Secretary of State will facilitate the 2024 election cycle in accordance with the map the federal court has forced upon Alabama and ordered us to use.”

The Milligan plaintiffs said in a joint statement, “Thousands of Black voters throughout the Black Belt, for the first time, will be able to elect their candidates of choice in two opportunity districts.”

We have the new map and more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Alabama Reflector – Federal court selects new Alabama congressional map
WABE – Alabama finally has a new congressional map after a lengthy legal fight
Democracy Docket – After Unprecedented Defiance, Alabama Finally Has a Fair Congressional Map for 2024
Alabama Political Reporter – Reactions to new 2024 congressional map pour in

Reuters – Alabama Democrats likely to flip seat under court-approved congressional map

Groups Taking Action:
National Redistricting Foundation, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, ACLU Alabama

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