Yes. The state of Alabama has a long, well-documented history of discrimination in redistricting and voting. These discriminatory redistricting policies and maps are directly linked to Alabama’s historical and present racial discrimination against Black people. In five of the six redistricting cycles since 1960, the U.S. Department of Justice or federal courts have found that Alabama’s legislative districts — congressional, state, or both — have violated the rights of voters under the U.S. Constitution or the Voting Rights Act.
In 2013, the Supreme Court ruling in Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder effectively dismantled Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act and the pre-approval process that required states with histories of racial discrimination in voting and redistricting to seek approval from the federal government before implementing plans. The absence of the federal pre-clearance process is a major detriment to voters of color.