West Alabama Part of Special Congressional Primary
Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has opened the way by vacating a court-ordered congressional voting map previously required in Alabama, Gov. Ivey has set August 11th as the date for a special primary in congressional and state district races affected by the GOP's redistricting plan.
If the Federal Court for the Northern District of Alabama gives final approval, Alabama will return to the 2023 map drawn by the state. It effectively eliminates the map drawn by the federal court that redrew the 2nd Congressional District to make it a majority-minority district that led to the election of current Democrat U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures.
A panel of federal district judges in Birmingham has ordered plaintiffs in the two Congressional districts voting map cases that led to the court drawn maps to file briefs by Friday, at noon. The state has until Monday, at noon to respond to the question of why the 2023 Congressional map the state intends to use should or shouldn’t be affected by the Louisiana decision made by the Supreme Court.
The court is ordering Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen to lay out the practicalities of administering the new special primaries ordered by Gov. Ivey, including a deadline for when Allen would need the electoral map set for those Aug. 11 elections.
Courts had previously blocked the map, ruling that it was unconstitutional under the Voting Rights Act. The high court, however, voided that order.
Voters in congressional districts 1, 2, 6 and West Alabama's 7th district will be able to vote Tuesday on all elections on the ballot, including congress. However, those congressional votes will be voided and the revote on August 11th becomes the true election for those seats.
“I will continue to say: Alabama knows our state, our people and our districts best. The United States Supreme Court’s decision is plain common sense and enables our values to be best represented in Congress,” Ivey said when signing the special election proclamation. “For years, we have fought for this outcome, and I am proud to celebrate this win for Alabamians.”
“Here’s what I want every Alabama voter to remember: go vote on May 19,” Secretary Allen told reporters during a press conference in the Old House Chamber at the Capitol. “Votes for statewide constitutional offices, local races, state legislative and judicial races, as well as statewide constitutional amendments, will count on May 19.”
Counties in West Alabama that will need to vote again in August include Bibb, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, and Tuscaloosa.
"The May 19 primary includes many important races, including numerous statewide constitutional offices, local races, state legislative, and judicial races, as well as statewide constitutional amendments." Allen said. "All of these will proceed as normal, and results will be tabulated, canvassed, and certified."
Allen added as more information becomes available, he will announce it.
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