Alabama Lawmakers Introduce Redistricting Bills Amid Protests
The Alabama Legislature's Special Session, called to redraw the state's congressional districts, got off to a loud start outside the statehouse this afternoon but a quick adjournment by both bodies inside, There was not much for lawmakers to do as they are waiting on the greenlight from the federal courts to redraw districts that will be all Republican.
The session was setup by a U.S. Supreme Court opinion last week in Louisiana v. Callais that ruled race cannot be the deciding factor in the development of voting districts. Alabama is currently working under a court mandated map that created two majority minority districts that cannot be redistricted until 2030.
Legislative voting districts typically are redrawn only once a decade, after a census, to account for population changes. But Republicans are working feverishly to return to a more favorable map before the November General Elections.
Earlier today Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall filed an emergency motion with the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta seeking to be allowed to revert back to a previous state Senate district map for the 2026 elections. The motion urged a decision by May 8th which would be the last day of the limited five days session called by Gov. Ivey,
According to Secretary of State Wes Allen, the May 19th party primaries will be conducted as scheduled. How the outcomes would be impacted by any redistricting is still unclear.
Protesting the Special Session
Prior to the gavel coming down to convene the special session, a rally organized by voting rights advocates and organizations opposed to the Republican redistricting plan was conducted outside the statehouse. With the title “Pull Up to the People’s House,” the rally opposed the redistricting as a denying representation to 27% of Alabama's population.
“This 11th-hour redistricting effort imperils the diversity of our elected bodies and representation of all communities,” Alabama Arise Executive Director Robyn Hyden told the crowd. She accused the high court's conservative majority of gutting Voting Rights Act provisions that protect Black and Hispanic voters against efforts to dilute their voting power.
The League of Women Voters of Alabama stated, "“Our multiracial democracy depends on maps that do not dilute the political power of Black Alabamians."
Further questions were raised by Democrats as to how any change would impact the party primaries in just over two weeks.
Nationally, Alabama is not the only red state attempting to gerrymander districts and that has prompted blue states to threaten to do the same.
The Session Convenes and Adjourns
Once the session began the House of Representatives prayer opened with a not-so-subtle plea for wisdom and fairness and for lawmakers to not allow power to override principle, The prayer asked for a commitment by the house to, "Let fairness overcome pressure, preference and partisanship.".
Four bills were introduced:
- House Pro Tem Chris Pringle officially introduced House Bill 1, a plan tied to Alabama’s congressional maps. The bill would not change the May 19 primary, but it would set up a possible do-over. It was assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee.
"This bill would authorize a new special primary election to be held if: (i) a federal court issues an order or vacates an injunction thereby allowing the Legislature to use a previously enacted legislative Congressional redistricting plan in the 2026 General Election, and (ii) the court ruling is made at a time that is too late to be accommodated during the normal primary election schedule but would allow a new special primary election to be held in a manner that does not affect the 2026 General Election date set in November of 2026." reads the document.
- Baldwin County Senator Chris Elliot (R-32) put forth Senate Bill 1. Its wording is the same as the house bill and it was assigned to Elections, Voting and Campaigns Committee.
The bill is accompanied by a Fiscal Note setting $600,000 as the cost of reimbursing affected counties for election expenses incurred in Senate Districts 25 and 26, if a special election is needed.
- Jefferson County Senator Rodger Smitherman (D-18) introduced Senate Bill 2, "Redistricting; U.S. Congressional Districts Redrawn." It was assigned to the Senate Committee on Judiciary.
- Greensboro Senator Bobby Singlton (D-24) introduced Senate Bill 3, "Redistricting, U.S. Congressional Districts Redrawn." It was assigned to the Senate Committee on Judiciary.
The House adjourned until 9:00 Tuesday morning. The Senate will reconvene 90 minutes later at 10:30 tomorrow morning.
Congressional District 7 Could Be Impacted by New Map
Despite Republican talk of seven GOP congressional districts, capitol observers believe the most like scenario for the 7th district would Democrat Rep. Terri Sewell's District 7 remaining majority-Black by population and favorable for her reelection
If the legislature is allowed to return to an earlier map the district would need to have updated qualifying deadlines, potentially for new qualifiers, and new special elections.
Other Legislative Business Taking Place
The special session is not the only business being conducted at the state this week. Various committees are hold hearings. Among them are the Finance and Taxation Committee Tuesday at 9:00am, the Make Alabama Healthy Study Commission Wednesday at 10:00am, the Rural Health Transformation Advisory Committee Wednesday at 3:00pm and multiple meetings of the Contract Review Committee Meeting and Legislative Joint Transportation Oversight Committee.
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