Gov. Kay Ivey today issued the proclamation to call the Alabama Legislature into a special session beginning at 2 p.m. Monday, July 17, 2023, to address redistricting.
The special session became necessary after the U.S. Supreme Court found Alabama’s 2020 maps discriminatory toward Black voters; a federal court recently set a July 21 deadline for state lawmakers to draw up and approve new maps.
Upon issuing the proclamation, Ivey released the following statement, “It is critical that Alabama be fairly and accurately represented in Washington. That is why I support the Alabama Legislature readdressing our congressional map in a special session beginning July 17.”
The governor further cautioned against plans by some lawmakers to push forward on a wide-ranging and divisive agenda.
“It is of the utmost importance that this special session only addresses the congressional map and nothing else,” said Ivey. “The task at hand is too urgent and too important. The Alabama Legislature has one chance to get this done before the July 21 court deadline. Our Legislature knows our state, our people, and our districts better than the federal courts or activist groups do.”
The Legislature today began a public hearing on redistricting.
