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Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, and Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile, released key dates for Alabama's Congressional redistricting Wednesday. The lawmakers serve as joint chairs of the Permanent Legislative Committee on Reapportionment.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling throwing out Alabama’s 2021
Congressional district map (above). The 5-4 decision in effect requires state lawmakers to redraw the map to include two districts where demographics provide an opportunity for a Black person to be elected.
A reapportionment committee, including members of both the House and Senate, will meet in three public hearings to debate map proposals and grant preliminary approval of a new map. Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, announced House members selected for the committee Wednesday.
Gov. Kay Ivey is required to call a special session of the Legislature to vote on the proposed map. According to court filings, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall expects the special session to be July 17-21, the deadline for approving a new map.
“If the special session runs from July 17 through July 21, there will be time for the Reapportionment Committee to receive public input regarding the plan and then propose it to legislators for review before a vote,” Marshall said in the court filing.
Key Dates and Locations for Redistricting
Tuesday, June 27, at 1:30 p.m.
State House Room 200
Reapportionment Committee Meeting and Public Hearing
Link to Live Stream
Friday, July 7, at 5 p.m.
Deadline to submit plans to the Reapportionment Committee
Thursday, July 13, at 1:30 p.m.
State House Room 200
Committee Meeting and Public Hearing
Link to Live Stream
Monday, July 17
Proposed Start of Special Session
Friday, July 21
Deadline for Legislature to Approve New Map
Monday, August 14
Federal District Court Hearing
Hugo L. Black United States Courthouse
Birmingham, AL
Alabama Farmers Federation Governmental and Agricultural Programs Department Director Mitt Walker said legislators will likely look to urban areas to find the concentration of minority voters needed to satisfy the courts.
"While we can’t say for sure how the newly drawn districts will be shaped, I understand the current districts most likely to be impacted are Congressional Districts 1 and 2, with seats currently held by U.S. Reps. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile, and Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, respectively," Walker said. "In order to create a second Black-majority district, it’s hard to imagine areas like Mobile and Montgomery will not be impacted in some manner."
New maps, however, won’t necessarily guarantee a Democratic advantage, Walker said. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, could see the minority makeup in her 7th Congressional District decrease as lines are shifted. The result could be two districts with narrow Black majorities, opening the door for voters to choose Republicans in all seven districts.
Federation External Affairs Department Director Brian Hardin said the organization is monitoring how redistricting might impact the timing of a special session on gambling.
"Legislative leadership had already hinted about a possible session later this year to address gambling," Hardin said. "It’s yet to be seen how the court’s ruling will impact those plans."
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