WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday cleared Alabama’s congressional redistricting map for use in upcoming elections, rejecting a legal challenge that claimed it violated voting rights protections.
In a 6-3 decision, the court upheld the state’s map drawn after the 2020 census, finding that it complied with the Voting Rights Act. The ruling allows Alabama to proceed with its planned election schedule using the current district boundaries.
The decision reverses a lower court’s finding that the map diluted the voting strength of Black Alabamians. Alabama’s Black population is approximately one-third of the state’s total, and the map maintains one majority-Black district out of seven congressional seats.
Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, stated that plaintiffs failed to meet the burden of proving that the map violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. “The district court erred in its application of the standards established by this Court,” Roberts wrote.
Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, arguing that the map continued to limit opportunities for Black voters to elect candidates of their choice.
Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen welcomed the ruling. “Today’s decision affirms that Alabama’s maps are fair and legal,” Allen said in a statement. “We are prepared to move forward with elections under the current map.”
The case stems from long-running litigation following the 2020 census. In 2023, the Supreme Court had previously required Alabama to create a second majority-Black district, leading to a court-drawn map used in the 2024 elections. After that cycle, the Republican-controlled state legislature adopted a new map that maintained one majority-Black district, prompting fresh lawsuits from voting rights groups and Democratic lawmakers.
Civil rights organizations expressed disappointment with the outcome. The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, which represented challengers, said it would review the full opinion before determining next steps.
Legal analysts noted the decision provides clarity for states navigating Voting Rights Act compliance in redistricting, though some uncertainty remains regarding future challenges in other states.
As of Monday afternoon, Alabama election officials said candidate filing deadlines and primary schedules would remain unchanged. The ruling is expected to affect the 2026 midterm elections, with candidates already preparing campaigns under the approved boundaries.
The Supreme Court’s decision concludes this round of litigation over Alabama’s congressional districts, though related state legislative map disputes continue in lower courts.
