Posted on Jan 26, 2022
Federal court says Alabama's congressional map disadvantages Black voters
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https://www.npr.org/2022/01/25/ [login to see] /federal-court-says-alabamas-congressional-map-disadvantages-black-voters
A panel of federal court judges has blocked Alabama's new congressional map, drawn by Republican state lawmakers, from taking effect.
In an opinion released late Monday, the judges sided with plaintiffs, including the ACLU of Alabama and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), writing that under the map, "Black voters have less opportunity than other Alabamians to elect candidates of their choice to Congress."
When crafting the maps last year, the GOP majority in the legislature drew just one majority Black district. But according to 2020 census state population counts, 27% of Alabama's residents identify as Black. Therefore, the federal judges order that any map needs to include at least two Black-majority districts, "or something quite close to it."
A panel of federal court judges has blocked Alabama's new congressional map, drawn by Republican state lawmakers, from taking effect.
In an opinion released late Monday, the judges sided with plaintiffs, including the ACLU of Alabama and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), writing that under the map, "Black voters have less opportunity than other Alabamians to elect candidates of their choice to Congress."
When crafting the maps last year, the GOP majority in the legislature drew just one majority Black district. But according to 2020 census state population counts, 27% of Alabama's residents identify as Black. Therefore, the federal judges order that any map needs to include at least two Black-majority districts, "or something quite close to it."
Federal court says Alabama's congressional map disadvantages Black voters
Posted from npr.org
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Posted 3 y ago
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SFC Casey O'Mally
Courts ordering that minorities are required to have more seats then their equivalent population? That's a good rule?
Despite SCOTUS already saying that maps are NOT required to apportion by race?
Alabama is 26.64% black according to 2020 census. 2 of 7 seats would be 28.57% - which is greater than their representative population.
Yes, the difference is minor. But the court is actually ORDERING greater representation. Which is not the court's role.
Despite SCOTUS already saying that maps are NOT required to apportion by race?
Alabama is 26.64% black according to 2020 census. 2 of 7 seats would be 28.57% - which is greater than their representative population.
Yes, the difference is minor. But the court is actually ORDERING greater representation. Which is not the court's role.
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Bad ruling, IMHO. If it was done to intentionally disenfranchise blacks, which is nowhere discussed in this article, then sure. But realistically, making every district 27% black would be the "proper" way to go, if we really want to discuss race. I haven't seen the map, but SCOTUS has already rules that PARTISAN gerrymandering is perfectly legal, it is RACIAL gerrymandering that is a no-go. And the plaintiffs have to PROVE that it was racial and not partisan. A simple "we should have more by the numbers" does not meet that threshold, yet this is what the judge ruled.
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