With help from our grassroots partners, we organized a statewide redistricting program. Our program prioritizes public education, outreach, and organizing across Alabama to advocate for fair and equal representation for all Alabamians.
YOUR VOTE MATTERS!
The U.S. Supreme Court dropped a major voting rights win. In Allen v. Milligan, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote a majority opinion striking down Alabama’s congressional map for violating Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). In doing so, the Court affirmed the current application of Section 2, a portion of the landmark law that bans voting rules or electoral schemes that dilute the voting strength of minority voters.
Alabama was ordered by a federal court to redraw their congressional maps to ensure that there were two majority-Black districts, but they refused, arguing their map with only one was good enough.
It was sent back to the same federal court, who ruled again that the map was unfair and appointed an independent group to draw a new one. Their map was ratified, and Alabama got a second majority-black district for the first time in history! This is an incredible win for fair representation in the state.
Shomari Figures (D) defeated Anthony Daniels (D) in the Democratic primary runoff in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District on April 16, 2024. Figures received 61.0% of the vote to Daniels’ 39.0%. Figures and Daniels were the top two finishers in the 11-candidate primary on March 5, 2024. The two advanced to a runoff because neither received more than 50% of the vote.
The primary runoff took place in the context of court-ordered redistricting. In October 2023, a three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama approved a new congressional district map for Alabama after federal courts found two previous redistricting efforts violated the Voting Rights Act. The October 2023 map redrew the 2nd District to have a 48.7% Black voting-age population, which political commentators said would tilt it towards Democrats.
Once every 10 years, Alabamians have a unique opportunity to determine the future of our state through redistricting. Our districts determine how we will be represented; and how funds for schools, hospitals, and other essential services will be allocated to our communities.
Redistricting is happening right now. It is crucial our voices are heard and respected by legislators in the map-drawing process. Join us now and contact your state legislator’s to demand (we’ve made it easy) fair and equitable maps.
The Alabama state legislature has passed Alabama’s Congressional, State House, Senate and State Board of Education district maps.
These maps passed by the majority party mirror previous district maps that have long been criticized by civil rights leaders, legal experts, and the Congressional map deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court based on race.
The state legislature was presented alternate maps that more fairly represent Alabama as a whole. The majority party had a clear choice to support fair maps, championed by many who spoke out in the public and Committee hearings, and did not.
Although the district maps have been approved by the state legislature, our fight is not over. Alabamians deserve fair representation. Join us by contacting your legislator to express your disappointment in the redistricting process and the maps the legislature approved.
Gerrymandering is one of elected officials’ most effective tools in silencing our voice. Gerrymandering is the intentional manipulation of the map-drawing process by elected officials who seek to maintain or unfairly change the direction of political power.
When maps are drawn to benefit elected officials or for partisan gain alone, many communities lose critical resources such as funding for schools, healthcare, and public safety initiatives.
Join us by contacting your legislator to demand that legislators prioritize everyday Alabamians instead of elected officials by drawing FAIR maps, reflective of Alabama as a whole. We made it easy, send your letter in just a few clicks!
Join us now to demand that legislators:
Draw fair and equitable maps that are truly representative of Alabama, and hold public hearings after the committee’s maps have been made available. These hearings should be held outside of workdays and working hours to ensure the broadest public participation.
Public comments are critical to the redistricting process as the legislature is required to take public input into consideration when drawing the district lines. You can submit public comments to the Reapportionment Committee through October 27. Use your voice and submit public comments today!
There’s also still time to submit written comments and people-drawn maps until the first day of the special session (October 28th). For more information, email us at info@voteprotection.org. Together, we can make sure Alabama’s legislative and Congressional maps are the most inclusive and representative in history.
Our organization has drafted a sample letter you can print to mail to your legislator(s) of choice. When you download it, make sure to include necessary information, such as your name and address, to get the best chance of response.
Once you download the letter and print it, find your legislator(s) and mail your letter!
Prisons are disproportionately built in rural areas, but a majority of incarcerated people call urban areas home. Counting prisoners in the incorrect place results in a systematic transfer of population and political influence from urban to rural areas.
Our tools page has access to several great resources to aid and assist Alabamians who are interested in learning more or becoming involved in the community line-drawing process, including map drawing software, informative videos, information on trainings, and more
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