After lawmakers adjourned for the final day of the special legislative session, the Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP) swiftly applauded lawmakers' and state leaders' efforts to possibly allow a special election using the currently court-banned district maps.
Both bodies of the legislature concluded their sessions the week after passing one another’s legislation, allowing the state to use maps for a special election that are currently enjoined in federal court.
The week was filled with vehement protests from Democrats. However, both bills cleared the legislature as quickly as the rules allowed.
Minutes before receiving Ivey’s signature, ALGOP released a statement applauding lawmakers, Gov. Kay Ivey, Secretary of State Wes Allen and Attorney General Steve Marshall for their significant efforts.
“We appreciate the unified efforts of Alabama’s Republican leadership to protect fair representation for our state,” said ALGOP chairman Scott Stadthagen.
The special session was called after the 6-3 majority ruling in Louisiana v. Callias, in which the U.S. Supreme Court held that race-based gerrymandering was unconstitutional. Alabama swiftly reacted, filing motions to have the injunction on both the congressional and state senate maps approved by lawmakers lifted. Lawmakers approved the 2023 congressional map following an initial map that was blocked by a federal court, forcing the legislature to approve another. Despite the redrawing, a three-judge panel likewise found that the 2023 map likely violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The bills, now signed into law, would compel the state to hold a special election using the congressional and state senate maps currently blocked by injunction.
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