On Tuesday, Republican politicians in Montgomery rammed through poorly drawn legislative maps that will affect elections in Alabama for a decade. Republican committee leaders failed to answer important questions about the proposed maps like how they were compliant with the US Constitution, the Voting Rights Act, whether a racial polarization survey had been conducted in any of the districts, and why these maps were drawn behind closed doors with the help of out-of-state consultants.

These maps are gerrymandered to hell and back. Republicans in Montgomery are yet again attempting to do what they do best - dilute the influence of minority voters, especially Black voters so they can maintain power. People should pick their politicians, not the other way around.

We need your help. Use this toolkit to share information with your online community and hold your elected officials accountable. People should pick their politicians, not the other way around.
 

The Facts:

The Redistricting committee failed to meet the standards of fair redistricting by ignoring the guidelines they set for themselves:

  • Keeping counties intact: Republicans split counties 35 times to create 35 State Senate districts, including splitting Jefferson County seven times.
  • Keeping precincts intact: Republicans split 57 precincts in their State House map.
  • Comply with “one-person, one-vote” per the 14th amendment: 40% of Alabamaians voted for Democrats in 2020, the proposed map for US Congress gives 14% of representation in US Congress to Democrats.
  • Keeping maps contiguous and respecting geography: State Senate District 33 unnecessarily crosses Mobile Bay, Tuscaloosa County is split into 6 unrecognizable shapes on the State House map, and many other districts drawn with no respect to any natural boundaries or geography.
  • Compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965: the blatantly gerrymandered maps packs Black voters into as few districts as possible diluting minority influence over Alabama elections.

Talking Redistricting on Social Media

Share our graphics with your own message to your followers or copy and paste our sample social media posts here:
 

When districts are drawn without respect to natural boundaries, voters feel disconnected from each other and the political process. The redistricting process should strive to create compact districts that minimize splits– and actually make sense.

 

AL GOP Map B
People should pick their politicians, not the other way around. We need a more transparent and accessible redistricting process so voters can more directly inform how electoral maps are drawn.
 AL GOP Map CD
Neighborhoods and communities should not be split by electoral maps just to suit the political interests of an elected representative or political party. Districts should keep communities of interest intact.

People should pick their politicians, not the other way around.
 AL GOP Map CD
These new maps are gerrymandered to hell and back. Republican politicians are yet again attempting to do what they do best: dilute the influence of minority voters—especially Black voters—so they can keep power.

People should pick their politicians, not the other way around.
 People should choose their politicians.

 

Take Action:

Ask Your Legislators To Support Fair Districting
Contact your legislator to demand they prioritize Alabamians instead of elected officials in the map drawing process. Find your legislator's contact information here.

Mail A Letter To Your Legislators
Alabama Election Protection Network has drafted a sample letter you can print to mail to your legislator(s) of choice. When you download it, make sure to include necessary information, such as your name and address, to get the best chance of response. Once you download the letter and print it, find your legislator(s) and mail your letter! Personalize and download the sample letter here.


Access further information from the Permanent Legislative Committee on Reapportionment, including maps, member information, meeting notices, and more. Minutes from the public hearings will be added later.

Read more about Redistricting in Alabama on the Alabama Election Protection Network website and Alabama ACLU website.

Sign up to volunteer with the Alabama Democratic Party.
Elected officials in the Alabama state legislature are the ones who draw new electoral maps every census. Let's make sure the right folks are at the table next time. Candidates will need all hands on deck in 2022 and the Alabama Democratic Party is ready to help them on the ground. Check out ADP's events here and let's get to work!
 

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