John,

Here are some updates from the last few days you may have missed.

Federal Court Blocks Alabama Congressional Map

• Last night, a federal court in Alabama handed down a decision blocking the state’s new congressional map from being used. The court found that the enacted congressional districts likely violate the Voting Rights Act (VRA) and ordered the Legislature to draw a new map with a second majority-Black district. Read more here.

Wisconsin Drop Boxes in Legal Limbo, but Eligible for Feb. 15 Election

• During the 2020 election, the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) published guidance that allowed counties to use drop boxes to collect absentee ballots. In response, conservative activists filed a lawsuit, Teigen v. WEC, arguing Wisconsin law does not permit drop boxes and they should be banned.


• On Friday, the judge in the case issued a ruling finding that drop boxes are not permitted by state law — just weeks before a state election in February. The WEC and nonprofit groups that intervened to defend drop boxes immediately appealed the ruling. On Monday, a Wisconsin appellate court paused the ban so that drop boxes can still be used in the February election. Read more about the ruling here.

New Lawsuits Filed Against Districts in Kentucky, Michigan and New Mexico

• Last Thursday, Republicans filed a lawsuit in Michigan against the state’s new congressional map. The thrust of the Republicans’ argument is that the new districts are not equal enough in population and thereby violate the one person, one vote rule. The suit asks the court to block use of the map and order the creation of a new one. Read more about the case here.


• Also on Thursday, the Republican-controlled General Assembly in Kentucky overrode Gov. Andy Beshear’s (D) veto of the new state House and congressional map. Hours later, a group of voters and the Kentucky Democratic Party sued, arguing both maps are partisan gerrymanders and unnecessarily split counties in violation of the Kentucky Constitution. Read the full alert here.


• Finally, on Friday Republicans in New Mexico filed a lawsuit against the state’s congressional map. The complaint alleges that the new map is a partisan gerrymander that favors Democrats in violation of the New Mexico Constitution. It argues Republicans in southeastern New Mexico were intentionally “cracked” among the state’s three districts to dilute their voting strength in violation of the state’s equal protection clause. Read more here.

Can’t get enough news? You can always find more details about these updates on our Alerts page.

Thanks for staying in the fight
Team Democracy Docket