ICYMI: Alabamians Call for Legislature to Adopt VRA Plaintiffs' Map at Public Hearing

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Jena Doyle

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ICYMI: Alabamians Call for Legislature to Adopt VRA Plaintiffs' Map at Public Hearing

Washington, D.C. – This week, the Alabama Legislative Committee on Reapportionment held a public hearing as part of the state’s redraw process, following the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Allen v. Milligan. During the hearing, Alabama voters testified in support of the VRA Plaintiffs’ Remedial Plan, which includes two majority-Black congressional districts, and called on the Alabama legislature to adopt the map. As first reported on AL.com, the National Redistricting Foundation (NRF) supported the VRA plaintiffs in submitting their map to the legislature. 

Governor Kay Ivey (R-AL) has called for a special session of the Alabama Legislature to begin July 17 to redraw the state’s congressional map. Plaintiffs have until July 28 to object to any state-enacted maps. 

In case you missed it, here is what Alabamians had to say about the VRA Plaintiffs’ Remedial Plan at the hearing: 

“We feel like this is a map that keeps the state of Alabama on the right side of the Voting Rights Act,” said Evan Milligan, lead plaintiff in Allen v. Milligan. “We strongly urge you to consider our remedial map.”

“The plaintiffs’ map also meets the standard that the Supreme Court has laid out for what will be required as we redraw [the map],” said Benard Simelton, President of the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP. “We urge the Redistricting Committee and the legislature, later on, to adopt this map so that we can move this process forward and be ready for our next election.”

“I have had a chance to review the letter and plan the Milligan and Caster plaintiffs have just shared with you and just discussed, and it makes a lot of sense to me…It would allow for two majority Black districts in the map, two opportunities for Black individuals in our state to elect the representative of their choice…this would also keep protection for all of our Black Belt counties,” said Trey Bruce, Birmingham resident. 

The full hearing can be watched HERE. 

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND

The VRA plaintiffs’ map achieves three main characteristics that make it fair and legally compliant: 

1) There are two majority-Black congressional districts: The map includes two majority-Black congressional districts, congressional districts 2 and 7. Both districts have a Black Voting Age Population (BVAP) of above 50 percent, which is necessary for these districts to effectively provide an equal opportunity for Black voters in Alabama as required by the VRA. Specifically, the 2nd Congressional District has a 50.08 percent BVAP and the 7th Congressional District has a 54.43 percent BVAP.  

2) All of Alabama’s Black Belt counties are protected: All of Alabama’s 18 Black Belt counties are kept within the two majority-Black districts and none of those counties are split apart among multiple districts. 

3) Most of Alabama’s original congressional map is kept intact: Congressional districts 1 and 2 were the only districts to see significant change in order to create a second Black opportunity district. Congressional districts 3, 6, and 7, maintain almost 90 percent of their current constituents. Congressional districts 4 and 5 do not experience any change. 

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