Democrats file redistricting maps; no. of districts could grow
Alabama Democrats last week filed their proposals to redraw the state’s House and Senate district maps to address a January court ruling that struck down 12 legislative districts due to improper use of race in their construction.
“This is the Alabama Legislative Black Caucus’ proposal,” said Rep. John Knight, D-Montgomery, the sponsor of the House bill, whose district was one of the 12 ruled unconstitutional. “If they’ve got better ideas, different ideas, let’s start the process of drawing constitutional districts.”
The proposed map redraws “a majority” of the House’s 105 districts, Knight said. Sen. Gerald Dial, R-Lineville, co-chair of the Permanent Legislative Committee on Reapportionment, said Monday the committee might look at drawing more districts. Dial cited the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Bethune-Hill v. Virginia, which ordered a court to reconsider a redistricting plan in that state, as a case that might require the Legislature to broaden its approach.
“Our problem has been the direction on reapportionment is continually moving from when we first did the plan,” he said.
Read more: http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/politics/southunionstreet/2017/03/20/dems-file-redistricting-maps-no-districts-could-grow/99421722/