Alabama electoral maps discriminate against Black voters, federal court rules

Republican legislature told by appeals judges to redraw new districts over probable violation of Voting Rights Act

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Alabama Republicans illegally discriminated against Black voters when they drew the state's seven new congressional districts last year and must quickly redraw the plan, a federal court has ruled.

The ruling is hugely consequential, a blunt assessment of the way lawmakers use their power to draw district lines to dilute the influence of Black and other minority voters.