Source: The News & Observer
The Supreme Court decision on Alabama redistricting may breathe new life into states like North Carolina, which is facing anti-voter measures by Republicans, a gerrymandering case and an upcoming round of redistricting.
In a 5-4 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court found that Alabama’s Republican-controlled legislature-drawn congressional map violated Black voters’ rights, which are protected under the Voting Rights Act.
Alabama Republican lawmakers drew a single majority-Black congressional district – out of seven statewide seats – after the 2020 census, essentially diluting Black voting power.
According to Vox, the court’s ruling will lead to the creation of an additional majority-Black congressional district in Alabama; eliminating a Republican-held seat and possibly giving Democrats an additional seat in the House of Representatives, where Republicans currently hold a majority.
The Alabama ruling offers hope to North Carolina, which will draw new voting maps in the coming weeks. According to The News & Observer, the Alabama decision may limit how much North Carolina’s Republican lawmakers can dilute Black voting power when they draw new districts for the 2024 election.
“Today’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court is a victory for American democracy and voters everywhere,” stated Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause North Carolina. “This decision should serve as a clear warning to North Carolina politicians that racist gerrymandering and attacks on voting rights will not stand.”
Currently, North Carolina faces a Republican-controlled legislature and state Supreme Court, which agreed to re-decide cases on voter ID, voting rights for people with felonies, and redistricting, despite rulings made months ago by the then Democratic-controlled state Supreme Court.
State Republicans are also pushing forth a bill that would eliminate the three-day grace period for acceptance of mail-in ballots postmarked on or before Election Day and limit those who register and vote on the same day to cast only a provisional ballot.
“North Carolina politicians should take note of today’s ruling and reject attempts to undermine voting rights,” Phillips stated. “We must protect everyone’s freedom to vote.”
Read more at The News & Observer
