A Lawsuit filed Tuesday, as Lawmakers get set to draw Alabama's New Congressional Map, is Challenging the State's Current Congressional Districts, saying they are “racially gerrymandered” and Limit Black Voters’ Influence in All but One Congressional District.
Alabama currently has One Majority-Minority District represented by U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-7th District), the Lone Democrat and Only Black Member of Alabama’s Congressional District.
The Lawsuit argues Alabama should have a Congressional Map that would “afford African Americans an opportunity to elect candidates of their choice in at least two districts.”
The Lawsuit by Two State Senators: Rodger Smitherman (D-18th District, Bobby Singleton (D-24th District), and Four Voters, was filed ahead of an expected Special Session on Redistricting, in which Lawmakers will draw New Congressional Districts, based on the latest U.S. Census Numbers. “We just want to make sure there is fair representation, equal representation,” Singleton said in a Telephone interview.
Secretary of State, John Merrill (R) is the Defendant in the Lawsuit because of his Position. No Date has been set, so far, for such a Session. Merrill said Tuesday, that he had Not been Served with the Lawsuit and could Not Comment on Pending Litigation.
“Alabama’s current Congressional redistricting plan, enacted in 2011 is malapportioned and racially gerrymandered, packing black voters in a single majority-black Congressional district,” the Lawsuit states.
The Lawsuit argues that Legislators Packed as “many minorities as possible” into the Congressional District that stretches from, Birmingham through West Alabama, and into Montgomery, “thereby weakening minorities’ voting influence throughout the state.”
The Suit seeks to avoid Splitting Counties and Return to the “redistricting principle of drawing its congressional districts with whole counties.”
“By returning to Alabama’s traditional redistricting principle of aggregating whole counties, Alabama can remedy the existing racial gerrymander, restore a measure of rationality and fairness to Alabama’s Congressional redistricting process, and afford African Americans an opportunity to elect candidates of their choice in at least two districts,” the Lawsuit states.
While the Population of Alabama is 25% Black, and Elected Bodies, such as the Legislature mirror that Representation, the Congressional Delegation is 14% Black.
Whites continue to be the Largest Racial Group in Alabama, but the Percentage of People in Alabama, who identify as White, Shrunk from 68.5% in 2010 to 64.1% in 2020.
There was the slightest Decrease in Percentage of People who Identify as Black, falling from 26% to 25.6%.
Alabama Officials, earlier this year were relieved to learn that the State would maintain their Seven Congressional Districts.
The Gerrymandering Case will be settled by the Highest Court in Alabama, not by Federal Courts.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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