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March is Women's History Month!

Black Caucus Files Suit

The Alabama Legislative Black Caucus along with county commissioners from around the state have filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the constitutionality of house and senate redistricting plans.

The plans were passed by the state legislature during a special session in May. Democratic legislators had contested the new lines from the outset. The lawsuit alleges that Republicans drafted the plans with the intention of minimizing black voting strength and diminishing the influence of black legislators. 

Caucus Co-Chairman, State Senator Bobby Singleton says the plans violate the whole county provision in the Alabama Constitution by splitting 50 of the state's 67 counties in such a way that there are one or more members of the local delegations than is necessary based on their populations.

Republicans have defended the plans as adhering to Department of Justice guidelines. They also say the lines were drawn in such a way to reflect population shifts over the last ten years.