Alabama Plans Appeal Against Federal Voting Rights Senate Redistricting Order

A federal judge ruled that Alabama's current state Senate districts violate the Voting Rights Act by diminishing the voting power of Black residents around Montgomery, mandating the state to redraw the districts before the 2026 elections. The ruling requires the creation of a new district in Montgomery where Black voters constitute a voting-age majority or nearly so, or the court will appoint a Special Master to redraw the map. Alabama plans to appeal the decision and seek a stay to delay implementing the new map, with Secretary of State Wes Allen noting that any new districting must be finalized by November 17 to prepare for the May 2026 primaries. This legal dispute stems from a 2021 lawsuit filed by the NAACP Alabama State Conference, Greater Birmingham Ministries, and other Black voters, which also challenged districting in Huntsville, though no violation was found there. The case is part of a broader, ongoing fight over Alabama's electoral maps, following a previous ruling that led to the creation of an additional congressional district to better represent Black voters. The state government and Governor Kay Ivey's office are currently reviewing the court's order and consulting relevant parties regarding the next steps.