Last summer, in the case of Allen v. Milligan, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the proposed Alabama congressional district map was gerrymandered, discriminating against Black voters. The state initially refused to redraw the map, defying the federal court order. However, a new map was eventually drawn, giving an opportunity for a second minority district.
Alabama’s newly created second congressional district has significantly increased voter engagement in its inaugural election, drawing unprecedented turnout for the Democratic primary on Super Tuesday.
What We Know:
- Voter turnout in the new second congressional district’s Democratic primary saw a 133% increase from the previous year, with 57,129 ballots cast compared to 24,478 in 2022.
- The primary had a diverse slate of 19 candidates, leading to runoff elections for both the Democratic and Republican parties.
- The heightened voter participation follows the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Allen v. Milligan last summer, which found Alabama’s congressional district map to be gerrymandered and discriminatory against Black voters. This ruling led to the creation of a second minority district.
- Local voters, like Benny Newton and Emily Smith, expressed strong convictions about the importance of voting in local elections, noting that this election felt more impactful than previous ones, driving higher engagement.
- Marina Jenkins, Executive Director of the National Redistricting Foundation, highlighted that fair representation maps boost political participation, enhancing democracy.
- Incoming law student Dawson Wilcox and other locals believe the increased turnout is due to greater representation opportunities and general political enthusiasm.
- Bill Foster of Aframsouth Inc. and Kathy Jones from the League of Women Voters of Alabama commented on the influence of engaging candidates and fair districts in motivating voter participation.
- A new state law criminalizing certain aspects of absentee voter assistance has spurred legal challenges from advocacy organizations.
- The district is preparing for the upcoming runoff elections scheduled for April 16, with hopes for continued high voter turnout.
This surge in voter turnout in Alabama’s second congressional district underscores the profound impact of fair electoral mapping and effective candidate engagement on democratic participation.