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Federally Mandated Gerrymandering

Mike

Well-known member
MOBILE, Alabama – A federal judge has set a May 21 date for Evergreen’s long-delayed municipal election and set new City Council boundaries that create three districts with an overwhelming black majority.

U.S. District Judge Ginny Granade issued her order this week after Evergreen elected officials could not agree with a plan that would address constitutional deficiencies in the current City Council map. Under the new boundaries, three of the five council districts will have black majorities.

“The citizens of Evergreen have waited many months beyond the statutory date to vote for their city officials,” she wrote. “The parties previously have agreed to prompt a special election on terms consistent with this Order and no further delay is warranted.”

John Tanner, an attorney who represented three black residents, said he is pleased by U.S. Granade’s order.

“It’s on track,” he said. “There’ll be some continued attention to it. But the big issues are resolved.”

James Anderson, an attorney for the city, said some of the council members have expressed disappointment that the judge adopted a political map submitted by the plaintiffs.

“That’s something that we’re going to ask the court to reconsider,” he said.

He said the town also might ask the judge to push back the election to give the city clerk more time to prepare absentee ballots and take other steps necessary for the election.

“That is awful quick,” he said. “We may need some more time.”

Evergreen was set to have an election in August using City Council boundaries that elected officials redrew to adjust for population changes. But the U.S. Department of Justice had not approved the plan, sending it back with additional questions. The Voting Rights Act requires Alabama and other jurisdictions with a history of racial discrimination to get pre-approval before making any election change.
 
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