Montgomery state Senate district breaches Voting Rights Act

Federal Judge Rules Alabama Senate Map Violates Voting Rights

A federal judge has determined that Alabama’s Senate map infringes on the Voting Rights Act by minimizing the voting strength of Black residents in and around Montgomery.

In a ruling on Friday, US District Judge Anna Manasco supported several advocacy groups, such as the ACLU, NAACP, and the Southern Poverty Law Center. While she maintained that the Huntsville district’s composition could remain, she called for a redesign of the Montgomery Area Senate District.

Manasco stated that Black voters should “draw new maps in the additional Montgomery area, which encompasses a majority or nearly majority voting population.”

She suggested a relief plan that could either create an additional majority-Black Senate district in Montgomery or provide a district where Black voters can elect their preferred senator.

As a result of the ruling, Alabama cannot utilize its existing Senate maps in the 2026 elections. Should the state fail to produce a compliant map by that time, the court will take over and redraw it.

The ACLU and SPLC celebrated the ruling but continued to push for changes in the Huntsville district as well.

“We are pleased that the court recognizes the issues within Montgomery and insists on correcting illegal districts. However, we remain frustrated that Black voters in Huntsville are still not receiving fair representation,” said Davin Rosborough, Deputy Director of the ACLU’s voting rights project.

Advocates emphasized that this decision isn’t just a win for Black voters in Alabama—it’s a step towards fairness for all voters in the state. The court’s findings highlighted how the Alabama Legislature has systematically weakened the voting power of Black Alabamians through unjust districting.

Representatives from the NAACP and the Legal Defense Fund echoed these sentiments. One remarked, “This ruling reveals that pushing back against injustice can yield positive change. Alabama must work towards creating a more equitable neighborhood in Montgomery. Yet, we won’t stop here; we will continue until we ensure a fair map for our community.”

Deuel Ross, litigation director for the Legal Defense Fund, stated that the decision is a significant win for Montgomery’s Black voters, asserting their right to fair representation in the Alabama Senate. He noted that while the ruling is welcome, it also emphasizes the ongoing struggle, particularly for voters in Huntsville.