Alabama Lawyers File Objections to Special Master’s Congressional Maps
Alabama’s lawyers have filed objections to three congressional maps proposed by Special Master Richard Allen, who was appointed by a three-judge federal district court. The objections were filed by Attorney General Steve Marshall and Solicitor General Edmund LaCour on behalf of Secretary of State Wes Allen, the state defendant in the case.
Marshall and LaCour argue that the maps submitted by Allen are racial gerrymanders, in violation of the Constitution. They claim that these maps harm Alabama voters by subjecting them to racial classifications. Secretary Allen maintains his objection to the proposed plans and argues that the districts based on this structure are unconstitutional.
The three-judge court had ordered the special master to draw new maps after ruling on September 5 that the map approved by the Legislature in July failed to address a likely violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The court issued a preliminary injunction preventing the state from using the Legislature’s map in next year’s congressional elections.
The Legislature’s map had left District 7 in west Alabama as the only majority Black district out of seven, in a state where one-fourth of residents are Black. The court had instructed the Legislature to create a second district that is majority Black or close to majority Black. The special master’s proposed maps designate District 2 in south Alabama as the second opportunity district for Black voters. These plans aim to increase the Black voting age population in District 2 to about 50%, and analysis suggests that the Black-preferred candidate would have a higher chance of winning in the redrawn district.
The special master’s proposed maps closely resemble a plan proposed by plaintiffs in the case, who have argued that the state’s maps are unlawful racial gerrymanders. The Supreme Court has rejected Alabama’s request for an emergency stay in the case, upholding the lower court’s ruling.
Thursday was the deadline for the state and other parties to file objections to the special master’s maps. A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at the Hugo L. Black U.S. Courthouse in Birmingham, where the three-judge court will consider the objections and determine the next steps in the redistricting process.
Secretary Allen has emphasized the urgency of finalizing a new map by early October in order to prepare for next year’s elections. The state’s lawyers argue that Remedial Plan 1, proposed by the special master, is the most objectionable of the three plans, as it unnecessarily splits Houston County between Districts 1 and 2.
Special Master Allen has defended his proposed maps, stating that they were not racial gerrymanders. He explained that the districts were not drawn to achieve a specific threshold of Black population, but rather to test how often the Black-preferred candidate would win elections within those districts. Allen also emphasized that the proposed maps minimized changes to the Legislature’s plan as much as possible.
As the redistricting process continues, it remains unclear how the court will resolve the objections and which map will ultimately be used in next year’s congressional elections.