WASHINGTON − Alabama asked the U.S. Supreme Court on May 8 to let the Republican-led state impose new congressional maps for this year's midterm elections, the latest aggressive move by a southern state to take advantage of the court's recent decision weakening Voting Rights Act protections for minorities.
In an emergency filing, state officials said the high court's decision about Louisiana's congressional map should free Alabama from having to use a map that included a second majority-Black district to comply with the civil rights law.
"Alabama’s case mirrors Louisiana’s, and they should end the same way: with this year’s elections run with districts based on lawful policy goals, not race," Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall wrote in the state's appeal. He asked for a ruling by May 14.
The state is under an order by a lower court to keep that map in place until after the 2030 Census.
The Alabama state legislature on May 8 approved a new map that can be used in a special primary if the court order is lifted.
