Alabama Governor Ivey Signs Redistricting Bills After Special Session

TL;DR: Gov. Kay Ivey signed two redistricting bills Friday, prompting Republican leaders to hail the move as a voting‑rights win while Democratic officials denounce it as a rollback of progress.

Alabama’s legislature convened a special session after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in *Louisiana v. Callais*, which bars the use of race in drawing district lines. The session produced two bills that restore the 2021 and 2023 congressional and state legislative maps. Governor Ivey signed both measures on Friday, ending the week‑long effort.

Ivey told reporters the state is now ready to act quickly if courts issue favorable rulings in ongoing redistricting lawsuits. “With this special session successfully behind us, Alabama now stands ready to quickly act, should the courts issue favorable rulings in our ongoing redistricting cases,” she said. She thanked Speaker Ledbetter and President Pro Tempore Gudger for their leadership.

Republican officials praised the outcome. Senate President Pro Tempore Garlan Gudger, Senator Chris Elliott, and Alabama GOP Chairman Scott Stadthagen called the bills a significant victory for voting rights in the state. They argued the restored maps reflect local knowledge of communities and will preserve fair representation.

In contrast, U.S. Representative Terri Sewell condemned the legislation, saying it “erases progress” for Black voters. The Southern Poverty Law Center and the ACLU of Alabama issued statements that the bills aim to weaken Black voting power. Both organizations warned that the new maps could trigger legal challenges.

The May 19 primary election will proceed under the current boundaries. If a court lifts existing injunctions, Ivey has pledged to call special elections for any districts whose lines revert to the older maps.

What It Means The signed bills place Alabama’s district lines back under state control, but the legal landscape remains unsettled. Courts will soon decide whether the maps comply with federal voting‑rights standards. Watch for litigation outcomes and any special elections that may follow a court decision.