Alabama GOP congressional map ruling forces state to redraw districts with a second majority-Black seat.
- The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Alabama's latest congressional map, ruling it likely violates the Voting Rights Act by diluting Black voting power in a state where over 27% of the population is Black.
- A lower court gave Alabama lawmakers a tight deadline—just days—to craft a new map that includes a second district where Black voters have a fair chance to elect their preferred candidates.
- The ruling, originating from a challenge to the GOP-drawn map, marks a major win for voting rights advocates and could reshape the balance of power in the U.S. House for the 2024 elections.
- Alabama argued the map was race-neutral, but judges cited evidence of "stark" racial polarization in voting, calling the state's plan a textbook example of prohibited racial gerrymandering.
- This decision has national implications, as it sets a precedent for other states with similar Voting Rights Act challenges, potentially triggering redistricting battles across the South.