The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Aug. 12, 2025
After being directed to create two majority-minority Black districts by federal courts, then obstructing that order, Alabama’s congressional map was instead drawn by an independent expert in 2023. Still defiant, the state appealed, but August 7th, a three judge panel upheld the maps, in a win for Black Alabamians.
Alabama’s population is almost 27% Black, but the legislature included only one majority Black congressional district out of seven. The U.S. Supreme Court – recently no friend to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, found Alabama intentionally diluted Black voting power, and sent it back to the lower courts. When the legislature obstructively created a second district where a Black candidate had no reasonable chance of winning, the court chose an independent map over the objection of the state.
In the August 7th decision, the panel upheld the court-chosen map, but also ruled on whether Alabama should pay for its discriminatory behavior. Historically under the Voting Rights Act provisions, states could be required to pre-clear all election-related rules and legislation with the Justice Department for such behavior. But the 2013 Shelby vs. Holder decision neutralized those rules, and the appeals court let Alabama’s discriminatory practices skate – again. The state may appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
We have more on the distasteful history of this case at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Brennan Center for Justice – (2023) Allen v. Milligan (Formerly Merrill v. Milligan)
American Democracy Minute – (2023) Federal Appeals Court Slams Alabama Legislature for Defying U.S. Supreme Court’s Milligan Ruling and Strikes Down Revised Maps
American Democracy Minute – Fallout Continues from 2023 SCOTUS ‘Milligan’ Decision, as the Alabama Legislature Faces Possible Return of Preclearance Requirements
Alabama Reflector – Federal judges order Alabama to stick with congressional map through 2030
U.S. District Court Northern District of Alabama (Via Election Law Blog) – Remediation Decision in Milligan v. Allen
Travis Crum, Washington Univ. School of Law via Election Law Blog – Alabama Dodges Bail-in
Groups Taking Action:
NAACP Legal Defense Fund, ACLU, Greater Birmingham Ministries
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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