(AURN News) — I’m Ebony McMorris.
A congressional seat won by Black voters just two years ago may soon disappear.
The Supreme Court has allowed Alabama to move forward with a new congressional map that is expected to reduce the state’s majority-Black districts from two to one, a move putting Congressman Shomari Figures’ seat on the chopping block.
The decision comes despite a lower federal court finding that Alabama lawmakers intentionally weakened Black voting strength when drawing district lines.
The state’s Black population is about 27%, yet the new map could leave Black voters with only one district where they have a realistic opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice.
Voting rights advocates say the ruling is the first major fallout from the Supreme Court’s Louisiana v. Callais decision, which made it harder to challenge maps that diminish minority voting power.
Republican-led states across the South are already revisiting congressional maps ahead of the midterm elections.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
https://aurn-news.simplecast.com/episodes/alabama-map-ruling-could-reshape-black-voter-representation
