Will a Louisiana redistricting decision impact Alabama maps?

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WHNT) — Will the fate of Alabama’s congressional map depend on a single Supreme Court decision?

The nation’s highest court heard a Louisiana redistricting case today, and leaders questioned whether the ruling would impact maps in other states like Alabama.

A court ruled earlier this year that a map drawn by Alabama lawmakers in 2023 violated the Voting Rights Act. The state has since appealed that decision, and other states like Louisiana are making similar arguments about how election laws apply when redrawing maps.

Davin Rosborough of the ACLU Voting Rights Project explained that Alabama’s 2023 map was passed with racist intent, violating the Fourteenth Amendment. Regardless of what happens in Louisiana, Rosborough says he’s confident the ruling will stand, supporting the Voting Rights Act.

“And without that, a lot of the progress that’s been made in Alabama, in Louisiana, not only in the South but in other parts of the country, wouldn’t have been made,” Rosborough said. He explained how Alabama’s case is different from Louisiana’s.

In all of these cases, former Secretary of State John Merrill said there are many factors to consider when it comes to drawing state maps. He explained that people are no longer tied to a specific place like they were years ago and can live wherever they want.

“You don’t have that today and because you don’t have that, it makes it more difficult,” Merrill said. “These seats need to be restructured in order to get the representation people are looking for. And that doesn’t help anyone or any constituency.”

Merrill said states like California count non-citizens in their apportionment, making representation unique in each state.

“Each of these amendments to the Constitution was made in its time,” he said. “If we need adjustments to the document, or if we need adjustments to the amendments, we need to address them formally.”

Rosborough said the earliest the U.S. Supreme Court could decide to hear the Alabama case is November. If they decide to hear Alabama’s appeal, it could go before the justices next year.

“Our multiracial democracy is fragile. Section Two is a key bulwark to protect it,” Rosborough said.