Alabama State House of Representatives Districts
Below you'll find an alternative to Alabama's House of Representatives districts. This comparison will show a different interpretation of how representative districts ought to be drawn. The numbering of the districts in the map below keeps to the actual numbering as close as possible. Trying to recreate the actual districts was not practical using DRA since there are many split voting precincts, as well as precincts with large populations, including the Auburn district in Lee County. This voting district has nearly 54,000 people, which is itself larger than the ideal population of a house district (45,000). Therefore, only images of my districts will be shown. Since I was unable to find demographic data for the new court ordered districts, my comparison will be between my version and the version used in 2014/drawn after 2010. [Most districts are unchanged] (Alabama legislative elections are held every four years). The primary focus in each section will be on the most significant changes.
Northern Alabama 1-14, 16-30, 34, 36, 53
Most of the districts in this region are solidly Republican and largely White. My version cleans up many of the districts by keeping together communities of interest and reducing county splits. The 3rd district takes in parts of Colbert, Lawrence, Limestone and Morgan counties. By keeping the area's significant Black population in a single district, the 3rd's total Black population increases from 23% up to 31%. It also has a Black VAP of 30%. This district gave Obama about 55% of the vote in 2008 and 2012. It currently has an R+1 PVI. This obviously makes for a more competitive district than the current iteration.
In Etowah County, the 28th consolidates Black voters in Gadsden, making it more competitive. The district's total Black population increases from 29% to 32%. It has a Black VAP of 30% and an R+4 PVI.
In Madison County, the two Black districts are unpacked to create a new mostly non-White district. The 19th district's Black population and Black VAP are at 47% pluralities, and the district has a D+8 PVI. The 21st becomes 51% Black and has a Black VAP of 49%, with a D+17 PVI. The 53rd is the new Democratic leaning district. It's plurality White, but has a total non-White VAP of 50.2%, and it has a D+2 PVI. That may be a bit deceiving it gave Obama 59% in 2008 and 58% in 2012.
Central Alabama 15, 31-33, 35-38, 40-52, 54-63, 70, 73, 79-81, 88, 89
There are many significant changes in this region, mostly in Jefferson County. What might grab your eye first are the weird boundaries of the 35th. This is the best version of a Black opportunity district, which is called for in the area, that could be drawn using DRA. There are many very White and heavily populated precincts in Talladega and Calhoun counties, which caused the district to become contorted. Still with a total Black population of 49% and a Black VAP of 47%, this district, which gave Obama 63% in 2008 and 64$ in 2012, would be able to elect a Black representative.
There are two other districts that are not drawn as well as they should be, again having to do with the sizes of some of the voting districts in DRA. In Lee County some precincts contain tens of thousands of people, including the Auburn district, which has more people than a single district should have. This is the 79th district on the map above, and it's overpopulated by a few thousand. It's neighbor, the 38th is purposely under populated by a few thousand to compensate for the disparity. If splitting districts were possible in DRA, then the 38th would take enough from the 79th to bring them both closer to the ideal population. In either case, both are solidly Republican districts, though one is much more so than the other.
Over in Tuscaloosa County, the 63rd no longer packs Black voters. Its total Black population goes from 64% to 52%. The 70th turns into a plurality White district with a Black VAP of 39%. With a D+11 PVI, the 70th has potential to elect a Black representative. Additionally, there's no Black Belt district taking in part of the county. The remaining districts outside of Jefferson County are solidly Republican.
My version of Jefferson County adds two more Black opportunity districts bringing the total up from 8 to 10. Also, in my version the 55th has the highest Black percentage - 64%. Only one other district reaches 60% total Black population. This contrasts with the actual districts in the county, in which there are 4 districts that have Black populations reach past 70% including one that is 76% Black. By unpacking Black voters, there are more Black districts and more Democratic districts. The only mostly White districts in Jefferson County are 44, 47, 48, and 51.
Black Belt 65, 67-69, 71, 72, 74-78, 82-84, 90
The Black Belt districts undergo some significant change. Most districts clearly resemble those on the actual map, except that in my version, districts are unpacked and made more practical. There's also an increase to the amount of Black districts in Montgomery County. The 83rd and 84th districts aren't mostly Black, but there is of course enough of a Black voting bloc to ensure that these districts would elect Black representatives. Again, due to the inability to split precincts, in this case very large precincts in Lee County, these districts were the most obvious alternatives. The only districts that are mostly White are the 65th and 90th districts.
Currently there are 7 districts in, or partially in, Montgomery County. This includes 3 Black districts, 76, 77, and 78, that have total Black populations of 74%, 69%, and 72% respectively. My version above has 5 mostly Black districts entirely within Montgomery County, and they have total Black populations ranging between 50% and 60%.
Southern Alabama 64, 66, 85-87, 91-105
The districts here are mostly cleaned up, meaning that the borders are neater and more practical. Most districts are either solidly Republican or solidly Democratic. There is an important thing to note with the 85th district. Similar to a few other areas in the state, there are large voting precincts with many thousands of people. The actual 85th district is mostly Black, mine isn't. Both my district and the current 85th take in all of Henry County and part of Houston County. However, splitting some of those precincts to maintain a mostly Black district is not doable in DRA. Therefore, it takes in as many Black voters as possible, but in actuality would be drawn as it currently exists. In other words if it was doable in DRA, it would've been drawn the right way. Still, the state's overall amount of Black opportunity districts increases in my version.
The most significant change in this region is in Mobile County. My version, just like the actual version, has 4 mostly Black districts in the county. However, the actual version packs Black voters into these districts. For instance, the range of total Black population in the actual districts is from 58% to 69%. In my version the range is from 51% to 57%. This allows for my 98th district to become a new competitive district, since its Black population now reaches 42% and its Black VAP reaches 41%. It also has a PVI of R+2, but it gave Obama about 55% in 2008 and 2012.
Alabama's House of Representatives map obviously has districts that pack and dilute Black voters, which therefore weakens Democratic performance. The state was ordered to redraw them for the upcoming election, since there was obvious intent to reduce Black voting strength. By consolidating and/or unpacking Black voters where appropriate, more competitive districts arise throughout the state. There's also an increase in the amount of Black opportunity districts, up to 31 in total, in places like the Black Belt and the Birmingham area. Thank you for reading.
The maps were created using Dave’s Redistricting App: gardow.com/…
The charts and data were assembled using spreadsheets via Stephen Wolf’s guide: www.dailykos.com/…
The Statistical Atlas was used to match the district numbering: statisticalatlas.com/…
Ballotpedia was used to identify some incumbents: ballotpedia.org/...
Google Images aided in determining the regional breakdown
Links to the Mississippi maps
Alternative Districts: Mississippi State Senate
Alternative Districts: Mississippi State House of Representatives