WaPo: “The Republican-led legislature in Alabama approved a new congressional map on Friday that lowers the percentage of Black voters in a majority-Black district and allocates a 40 percent Black voting population to another district. A legal challenge to the map is already in the works, with Democrats saying the change is not enough to comply with a federal court order.
The new congressional map apportions the state’s 7th Congressional District to include a 50.65 percent Black population and draws its 2nd District to an area that has a 40 percent Black population. The Alabama Senate voted 24-6 to pass the new plan, and the House passed the map 75-28.
Gov. Kay Ivey (R) approved the map Friday evening, saying in a statement that the legislature “knows our state, our people and our districts better than the federal courts or activist groups, and I am pleased that they answered the call, remained focused and produced new districts ahead of the court deadline.” The map must next be approved by a federal court, which is set to hold a hearing in August.
The map is already expected to be challenged in court.”