Allen v. Milligan

In Allen v. Milligan, decided on June 8, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Alabama's congressional map likely violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Black voters make up 27% of Alabama's population, but the map created only one majority-Black district out of seven. Plaintiffs argued this diluted Black voting power, while Alabama contended the map was race-neutral. In a surprising 5-4 decision, Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court's liberals to uphold a lower court ruling requiring a second majority-Black district or something close to it, reinforcing protections against racial gerrymandering.

The Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's decision in a 5-4 ruling, finding that Alabama’s map likely violates the Voting Rights Act. The state was ordered to redraw its congressional map to include a second majority-Black district or an additional district where Black voters have an opportunity to elect representatives of their choice.

Whether Alabama’s congressional redistricting map violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by diluting the voting strength of Black residents, and whether the state is required to create a second majority-Black district.

The ruling was a major victory for voting rights advocates, preserving a key tool to challenge discriminatory redistricting plans. It forced Alabama and other states like Louisiana to redraw maps, strengthening minority representation in Congress. The decision affirmed that the Voting Rights Act remains a potent safeguard against racial discrimination in electoral processes.