Alabama Redistricting: A Historic Win for Voting Rights and Democracy, Boosting Black Voters and Praised for Fairness

Former President Barack Obama has praised the new Alabama congressional district map as a "historic win for voting rights and democracy." The map, chosen by a three-judge federal court, adds a second district where Black residents make up close to half of the voting age population, providing them with an equal opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice. The new map also increases the chances for Democrats to win in Alabama, which previously had six safe Republican districts and one safe Democratic district. Last year, the court found that Alabama's previous map likely violated the Voting Rights Act.