Alabama Pushes a Gerrymander Gamble as Court Rulings Loom on Map Changes

Alabama lawmakers are rushing a special session to greenlight a gerrymandered map that could erase Black-majority districts, while moving forward with the May 19 primary on the old map and potentially annulling votes if courts rule. The effort follows the Supreme Court’s Callais ruling that tightens Voting Rights Act protections, triggering litigation and questions about whether to revert to pre-2023 maps or draw new ones that could eliminate both Black districts. The plan has drawn national attention after Trump urged “vote twice,” and state officials warn voters may face confusion amid ongoing court battles and possible second ballots.