Alabama Governor Ivey Declines Special Session After Federal Voting Rights Act Ruling

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced she will not call a special legislative session to redraw state Senate districts after a federal judge ruled the current map violates the Voting Rights Act by diluting Black voters' influence in Montgomery. U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco, appointed by President Trump, directed that a new district be created in Montgomery where Black voters comprise a voting-age majority or close to it, giving the state legislature the first chance to redraw the map before the court intervenes. Ivey cited the complex legal challenge of complying simultaneously with the Voting Rights Act and constitutional prohibitions against racial discrimination, describing the task as "virtually impossible." The NAACP Legal Defense Fund expressed disappointment, emphasizing the importance of fair maps to ensure all Alabamians have a meaningful voice. Alabama is appealing the ruling, noting the U.S. Supreme Court will soon hear a case from Louisiana that could affect redistricting law, particularly regarding the role of race in drawing districts. Ivey remains hopeful for a solution but called on the Supreme Court to clarify the law to resolve this no-win situation for states like Alabama.