In advance of a court-directed special legislative session to redraw Alabama’s congressional districts, House and Senate leaders have appointed members to the committee responsible for preliminary approval of a new map.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the map lawmakers approved in 2021 violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It was the latest development in a lawsuit alleging Alabama’s congressional maps were discriminatory, as just one of the state’s seven congressional districts is majority black, despite 27% of the state’s population being black.
Lawmakers are now charged with adopting by July 21 “a congressional redistricting plan that includes either an additional majority-Black congressional district or an additional district in which Black voters otherwise have an opportunity to elect a representative of their choice.”
It’s up to Gov. Kay Ivey to call a special session, but court documents and lawmakers have indicated it will happen the week of July 17.
Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile, who leads reapportionment efforts in the House, previously said at least one public hearing on new map proposals is expected next week. So far, no meetings have been announced.
It’s the members of the Permanent Legislative Committee on Reapportionment who will vote on a proposal prior to it reaching the full Legislature in the special session.
House members are:
- Rep. Cynthia Almond, R-Tuscaloosa;
- Rep. Barbara Boyd, D-Anniston;
- Rep. Jim Carns, R-Birmingham;
- Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark;
- Rep. Corley Ellis, R-Columbiana;
- Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa;
- Rep. Laura Hall, D-Huntsville;
- Rep. Sam Jones, D-Mobile;
- Rep. Joe Lovvorn, R-Auburn;
- Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile;
- Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville.
In the Senate, reapportionment committee members are:
- Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile;
- Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road;
- Lance Bell, R-Riverside;
- Clay Scofield, R-Guntersville;
- Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro;
- Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook;
- Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro;
- Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur;
- Sen. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer;
- Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham;
- Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva.