Supreme Court Lets Alabama Use 7-District Map Despite Ongoing Primaries
Updated
Updated · The Atlantic · May 19
Supreme Court Lets Alabama Use 7-District Map Despite Ongoing Primaries
2 articles · Updated · The Atlantic · May 19
Monday’s order allows Alabama Republicans to use a 2023 congressional map with just 1 majority-Black district out of 7, even though a federal court had found it intentionally diluted Black voting strength.
The court acted while primary elections were already under way, applying the new map despite ballots already being cast and raising the prospect of discarded votes or a do-over election.
The ruling follows the court’s April decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which the report says weakened Voting Rights Act protections by treating race and partisan politics as too intertwined to prove discrimination.
Republican lawmakers across the South are already moving to cut Black representation, with cited efforts in Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi and South Carolina as the broader consequence of the court’s shift.
How will the new 'intent' standard for voting rights reshape the drawing of America's electoral maps?
With federal protections narrowed, what role will state courts now play in the fight over fair representation?
Supreme Court Ruling in Louisiana v. Callais Upends Alabama’s 2026 Elections, Slashes Black Representation, and Weakens Voting Rights Act Nationwide
Overview
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on May 11, 2026, threw Alabama’s 2026 elections into chaos by vacating a lower court order and allowing the state to use its 2023 congressional map. This map, unlike the court-drawn map used in 2024, reduces the number of districts where Black voters can choose their preferred candidate from two to one. The sudden change not only weakens Black voting power but also benefits Republicans, making it harder for Democrats to compete. The ruling has created confusion for voters and election officials, highlighting the immediate and far-reaching impact of the Court’s action.