The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
Judge Manasco has given Secretary of State Wes Allen til Sept. 4 to comply with her orders
September 1, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL - On August 22, 2025, U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco ruled that Alabama's current State Senate map violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by diluting the voting power of Black residents in the Montgomery area. Her 261-page opinion mandates the creation of a second majority-Black district in or near Montgomery, echoing language from a 2023 ruling in Alabama's congressional redistricting case.
The Court's Findings
Judge Manasco found that the 2021 Senate map packed Black voters into a single district while surgically extracting white voters into neighboring ones, thereby preventing Black residents from influencing elections beyond their immediate district. She emphasized the presence of "intensely racially polarized voting" and concluded that a second district could be reasonably drawn to reflect Montgomery's demographics.
While the plaintiffs also challenged Senate districts in Huntsville, Manasco ruled that they had not demonstrated a "reasonably configured district" where Black voters could form a majority, leaving those districts untouched.
Redistricting Challenges Ahead
Creating two majority-Black districts in Montgomery County presents logistical and political challenges. The county's population of 224,980 is insufficient to support two full districts without pulling in roughly 52,000 additional residents from surrounding areas. However, those areas-like Hope Hull, Snowden, Pike Road, and parts of Elmore County-are predominantly white and Republican, complicating compliance with the court's mandate.
The Legislature could look to nearby counties like Macon, Bullock, Lowndes, or Dallas, but doing so risks destabilizing existing Democratic districts or inadvertently creating new Republican-leaning ones, which could again violate the Voting Rights Act.
Latest Developments
As of August 29, Judge Manasco ordered Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen to declare by September 4 whether the Legislature intends to comply with the ruling and redraw the map. If the Legislature fails to act, the court will appoint a Special Master-Richard Allen, with cartographer David Ely and legal counsel Michael Scodro-to draw the new districts, the same team that redrew Alabama's congressional map in 2023.
Secretary Allen filed a status report indicating that a special legislative session would likely occur in late September or early October, if called by Governor Kay Ivey. The governor's office is currently reviewing the ruling and consulting with relevant parties.
Legal Uncertainty
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has not yet commented, but the state retains the option to appeal. Given its history-including two appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court in the congressional case-another legal battle is possible. However, appealing could jeopardize the favorable Huntsville ruling, which may deter the state from pursuing that route.
If the state does appeal, it may seek an injunction from the Eleventh Circuit or the Supreme Court to delay implementation. Without an injunction, the Legislature must act swiftly to produce a compliant map before candidate qualifying begins for the 2026 elections in early January.
Reactions
Benard Simelton, president of the Alabama NAACP, praised the ruling as a step toward justice but expressed disappointment that Huntsville was left untouched. "This decision proves that when we challenge injustice, we can make progress," he said.
Senate Majority Leader Steve Livingston offered a cautious response, saying the ruling was under review and expressing mixed feelings about the outcome.
What's Next?
The redistricting process could reshape Alabama's political landscape, especially in the Senate. Any map produced by the Legislature will face intense scrutiny from civil rights groups and must be approved by Judge Manasco. Meanwhile, Republicans are watching the Supreme Court's upcoming review of Louisiana's congressional redistricting case, hoping it might weaken elements of the Voting Rights Act and influence Alabama's legal strategy.
Reader Comments(0)