On Wednesday, Alabama asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow it to use a map that a lower court on Tuesday ruled "racially discriminatory." File Photo by Molly Riley/UPI | License Photo
May 27 (UPI) -- One day after a federal court blocked an Alabama congressional voting map that reduced the state's majority-Black voting districts to one, the state's Republicans have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to pause the order and allow them to use the map for upcoming midterm elections.
In its decision, the lower court said the map was racially discriminatory because it cut the state's majority Black-voting districts in half. The current map has two majority-Black districts out of seven, and about 27% of the state's population is Black.
The state's request to the Supreme Court said that a stay of the order is needed so that "Alabama is not again precluded from using its legislatively enacted 2023 Plan based on a decision that defies Callais, manipulates the Purcell principle and offends the Constitution's promise of equal protection for all," CNBC reported.
The request said the state and public will face "irreparable harm" if unable to use the map, CBS News reported.
