This story was originally written by Shanteya Hudson, Producer
BIRMINGHAM AL – The battle over Jefferson County’s 2021 redistricting maps heads to court this week with plaintiffs arguing the map violates the Voting Rights Act and the Constitution.
The case, McClure v. Jefferson County Commission, claims Black voters were racially gerrymandered and unfairly packed into two districts, diluting their influence in others.
Zephyr Scalzetti, program specialist for Alabama Values, a nonprofit advocacy group focused on promoting civic engagement, pro-democracy policies and fair representation on issues such as voting rights and redistricting, said the case is about more than lines on a map; it is about ensuring every voter has an equal voice.
“You look at the map overall. Jefferson County residents are willing to elect Black representatives but it is impossible for a Black candidate to win in these three white districts,” Scalzetti contended. “The plaintiffs are alleging that this is because those two supermajority Black districts are so packed with Black voters it is diluting their voice.”
Jefferson County’s five-district system was established in 1985. However, the lawsuit alleges that the 2021 maps are racially gerrymandered and haven’t changed much since then. Districts 1 and 2 are still supermajority Black while Districts 3, 4 and 5 remain majority white, limiting influence despite the population of Black residents growing.
Scalzetti noted the case raises significant concerns about transparency in the redistricting process. The lawsuit alleges the commission failed to conduct analyses required by the Voting Rights Act, such as a racially polarized voting study. It also points to limited public input, with key meetings held during work hours and proposed maps only viewable in person at the commission’s office.
Scalzetti emphasized the case highlights the importance of local redistricting in shaping representation and ensuring residents have a voice in decisions affecting their daily lives.
“Ultimately, this is about power,” Scalzetti asserted. “This is about the power of a community, the power of an individual voter and a group of people to actually affect what is happening in their community.”
The trial started on Monday, January 13 and is taking place in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. It is expected to draw comparison to the landmark Supreme Court case Allen v. Milligan. Scalzetti added the case could have far-reaching impacts on redistricting, not only in other counties across Alabama but throughout the South.
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