Digital Media Center
Bryant-Denny Stadium, Gate 61
920 Paul Bryant Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0370
(800) 654-4262

© 2024 Alabama Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Alabama Asks Court To Back Its Redistricting Plan

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is calling on Alabama and 10 other states to do a better job of restoring voting rights to ex-felons.
ryanjreilly
/
Flickr
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is calling on Alabama and 10 other states to do a better job of restoring voting rights to ex-felons.

Alabama is asking a federal court to rule that its redistricting plan for the state Legislature does not violate the Voting Rights Act.

The state filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking a declaratory judgment that the plan does not deny or abridge the right to vote based on race or color.

Also at issue is the act's preclearance provision, which requires state and local governments with a history of discrimination to obtain advance approval from the Justice Department or federal court in Washington before changing election procedures. Alabama said if the court doesn't grant a declaratory judgment, then it should find the preclearance provision and its 2006 amendments unconstitutional.

The state also seeks an injunction preventing Attorney General Eric Holder from enforcing the amendments or preclearance provision.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

 

Related Content
News from Alabama Public Radio is a public service in association with the University of Alabama. We depend on your help to keep our programming on the air and online. Please consider supporting the news you rely on with a donation today. Every contribution, no matter the size, propels our vital coverage. Thank you.