Alabama Maps Face State Constitution Question Ahead of 2026 Midterms
Alabama’s 2026 redistricting fight could face a new challenge under a state constitutional provision originally approved after pandemic-era voting changes.
State Court Report reported Monday that Alabama’s 2022 Amendment 4 may create a legal obstacle for new election maps adopted close to the November general election. The amendment says any bill enacted by the Legislature in a general election year and “relating to the conduct” of that election must take effect at least six months before Election Day.
The issue matters because Alabama has been moving quickly to change maps ahead of the 2026 midterms. The U.S. Supreme Court recently allowed the state to use a congressional map favoring Republicans, blocking a lower court ruling that found the plan intentionally discriminated against Black voters.
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Gov. Kay Ivey praised the court action and called special elections for affected districts. Civil rights groups condemned the decision, with the ACLU of Alabama and Legal Defense Fund saying the ruling delays relief for Black voters.
The political stakes are immediate. Under the court-ordered map used in 2024, Alabama elected two Black Democrats to Congress. The map now allowed by the Supreme Court has only one majority-Black district and gives Republicans a chance to reclaim the south Alabama seat held by Rep. Shomari Figures.
The next question is whether opponents can shift the fight from federal voting rights law to Alabama’s own constitution.
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