One sentence summary – A panel of federal judges has ruled that Alabama’s Republican-backed congressional map illegally dilutes Black residents’ voting power, leading them to appoint a special master to create a new map; similarly, a judge in Florida has ruled in favor of voting rights groups in a lawsuit against a congressional redistricting map approved by Ron DeSantis in 2022, sending the map back to the Florida legislature to be redrawn in compliance with the state’s constitution.
At a glance
- A panel of federal judges has ruled that Alabama’s Republican-backed congressional map illegally dilutes Black residents’ voting power.
- This is the second time the court has thrown out a congressional plan enacted by the Republican-controlled state legislature.
- The judges will appoint a special master to create a new map, as they see little reason to give lawmakers a third chance.
- Under the Republican map, only one of the state’s seven congressional districts is majority Black, despite Black residents making up more than a quarter of the state’s population.
- The Alabama case is part of several legal battles over redistricting that could result in new congressional maps in multiple states.
The details
A panel of federal judges has ruled that Alabama’s Republican-backed congressional map illegally dilutes Black residents’ voting power.
This is the second time the court has thrown out a congressional plan enacted by the Republican-controlled state legislature.
The judges have stated that they see little reason to give lawmakers a third chance and will appoint a special master to create a new map.
Under the Republican map, only one of the state’s seven congressional districts is majority Black, despite Black residents making up more than a quarter of the state’s population.
The panel first intervened in 2022, ruling that an earlier Republican plan was illegal.
The latest plan increased the number of Black voters in a second district but fell far short of a majority, leading to civil rights groups challenging the new map in court.
The Alabama case is part of several legal battles over redistricting that could result in new congressional maps in multiple states.
Republicans currently hold a slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In a similar development, a judge in Florida has ruled in favor of voting rights groups in a lawsuit against a congressional redistricting map approved by Ron DeSantis in 2022.
The map was criticized for diluting political power in Black communities.
The judge sent the map back to the Florida legislature to be redrawn in compliance with the state’s constitution.
The ruling is expected to be appealed by the state, potentially going to the Florida Supreme Court.
The lawsuit in Florida focused on a north Florida congressional district previously represented by Democrat Al Lawson, who is Black.
DeSantis vetoed a map that preserved Lawson’s district, submitting his own map and calling for state legislators to accept it.
Claims from Florida Republicans that the state’s provision against weakening or eliminating minority-dominant districts violated the US constitution were rejected by the judge.
The ruling is seen as a victory for fair representation for Black Floridians, according to the National Redistricting Foundation.
The DeSantis-approved map was labeled as voter suppression by the Florida Legislative Black Caucus.
The map resulted in Florida Republicans gaining four congressional seats, increasing their representation from 16 to 20 out of 28 seats.
Prior to the court decision, an agreement was reached between the state of Florida and voting rights groups to narrow the scope of the lawsuit to focus on Lawson’s congressional seat.
However, there is still a separate lawsuit in federal court over the state’s congressional maps.
These court decisions reflect a trend in the South where Republican-drawn congressional maps have faced scrutiny for reducing Black voting power.
The US Supreme Court recently overturned a Republican-drawn map in Alabama and lifted a hold on a case involving redistricting in Louisiana, potentially requiring the creation of a second congressional district that empowers Black voters.
Alabama’s Republican legislative leaders are expected to appeal the ruling.
The ruling in Florida is also expected to be appealed by the state, potentially going to the Florida Supreme Court.
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A group of diverse individuals standing together, symbolizing unity and representation, with a subtle emphasis on the importance of black voting power.
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| reuters.com |
|---|
| – A panel of federal judges has ruled that Alabama’s Republican-backed congressional map illegally dilutes Black residents’ voting power. – |
| This is the second time the court has thrown out a congressional plan enacted by the Republican-controlled state legislature. – |
| The judges have stated that they see little reason to give lawmakers a third chance and will appoint a special master to create a new map. – |
| Under the Republican map, only one of the state’s seven congressional districts is majority Black, despite Black residents making up more than a quarter of the state’s population. – |
| The panel first intervened in 2022, ruling that an earlier Republican plan was illegal. |
| – The latest plan increased the number of Black voters in a second district but fell far short of a majority, leading to civil rights groups challenging the new map in court. – |
| The Alabama case is part of several legal battles over redistricting that could result in new congressional maps in multiple states. – Republicans currently hold a slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. – |
| A Florida state judge recently ruled that a redistricting plan advanced by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis violated the state constitution by diminishing the power of Black voters. – |
| The Supreme Court has also ruled that a challenge to Louisiana’s congressional map can advance. – Alabama’s Republican legislative leaders are expected to appeal the ruling. |
| theguardian.com |
|---|
| – A judge in Florida has ruled in favor of voting rights groups in a lawsuit against a congressional redistricting map approved by Ron DeSantis in 2022. – |
| The map was criticized for diluting political power in Black communities. – |
| The judge sent the map back to the Florida legislature to be redrawn in compliance with the state’s constitution. – |
| The ruling is expected to be appealed by the state, potentially going to the Florida supreme court. – |
| The lawsuit focused on a north Florida congressional district previously represented by Democrat Al Lawson, who is Black. – DeSantis vetoed a map that preserved Lawson’s district, submitting his own map and calling for state legislators to accept it. |
| – Claims from Florida Republicans that the state’s provision against weakening or eliminating minority-dominant districts violated the US constitution were rejected by the judge. – |
| The ruling is seen as a victory for fair representation for Black Floridians, according to the National Redistricting Foundation. – |
| The DeSantis-approved map was labeled as voter suppression by the Florida Legislative Black Caucus. – |
| The map resulted in Florida Republicans gaining four congressional seats, increasing their representation from 16 to 20 out of 28 seats. – |
| Prior to the court decision, an agreement was reached between the state of Florida and voting rights groups to narrow the scope of the lawsuit to focus on Lawson’s congressional seat. – |
| There is still a separate lawsuit in federal court over the state’s congressional maps. – |
| This court decision is part of a trend in the south where Republican-drawn congressional maps have faced scrutiny for reducing Black voting power. – |
| The US supreme court recently overturned a Republican-drawn map in Alabama and lifted a hold on a case involving redistricting in Louisiana, potentially requiring the creation of a second congressional district that empowers Black voters. |
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