The on Tuesday gave Alabama Republicans a victory, issuing an emergency order that the state can use a congressional map likely to benefit the GOP in Novembers midterm elections.
The justices granted Alabamas emergency appeal to use a map adopted by the state legislature in 2023 that includes a single majority-Black district for this election cycle. The courts three liberal justices dissented.
Alabama Republicans had sought to revive the previously blocked map, which is expected to give the GOP an opportunity to gain an additional congressional seat by replacing a court-drawn south Alabama district that helped elect a Black Democrat with a map that contains only one majority-Black district.
The ruling came after the Supreme Court last month blocking Alabama’s 2023 congressional map and sent the case back for further review. Last week, however, a three-judge federal panel again blocked the GOP-backed map and ordered Alabama to continue using a court-drawn map containing two districts in which Black voters are a majority or have an opportunity to elect their preferred candidates.
Republican the ruling Tuesday evening and confirmed that Alabamas Aug. 11 special primary election would be conducted under the 2023 map.
“The confirmed what I have said all along and that is that Alabama knows our state, our people and our districts best,” Ivey said in a statement.
“Todays decision is a win for the people of Alabama and our elections,” she continued. “Alabama is doing our part to keep America strong, and I am proud our state continues to fight the fight to ensure activists do not get the final say.”
“I will see yall at the polls August 11!” Ivey added.
The Donald Trump has encouraged Republican-led states to redraw congressional maps following the Supreme Courts Callais decision, which limited the use of race in congressional redistricting. Alabama argued that the lower courts remedial map improperly elevated race over traditional districting principles, while voting-rights groups argued that the states map diluted Black voting power.
In an unsigned majority opinion, the court wrote: “The State has also made a strong showing of irreparable harm and that the equities and public interest favor it.”
“We have repeatedly cautioned that lower should not “alter the election rules on the eve of an election,” the majority added.
In a dissenting opinion, Justice Sonia Sotomayor argued that the map discriminates against Black Alabamians.
“Before the Court are two paths,” Sotomayor wrote. “Down one lies an orderly election, held under a tried-and-tested congressional map that protects Black Alabamians right to vote and with which all voters, elections officials, and candidates alike are familiar.”
“Down the other lies a chaotic election, held under a never-before-used congressional map that intentionally discriminates against Black Alabamians, that Alabama adopted in unashamed defiance of a prior court order diÂrectly affirmed by this Court, and that will require officials to change the voter registrations of hundreds of thousands of voters in just days at best, a task that Alabama previÂously represented would take months,” she continued.
“The majority chooses the second path and disregards both democratic values and the rule of law.” she added.
The ACLU also criticized the ruling, arguing it permits Alabama to use a racially discriminatory map.
“Todays ruling delays relief for voters who have already spent years fighting for an equal opportunity to elect candid
