The Alabama House of Representatives and State Senate on Wednesday (May 6) passed two bills to allow special primary elections for certain State Senate and congressional districts if courts let the state revert to old maps.
And they did it amidst hundreds of protestors crowding the hallways and a severe thunderstorm causing panic and an eventual evacuation of the State House due to flooding.
Check out more Alabama news here.
The two bills are the only ones being considered during Alabama’s special legislative session. The House bill deals with Alabama’s congressional map, while the Senate bill addresses two State Senate districts.
Gov. Kay Ivey called the special session in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 6–3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais. That decision limits the consideration of race when drawing congressional districts, stemming from a majority-minority district in Louisiana.
The legislation up for passage in the Legislature would only matter if the courts change their previous decisions. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and Secretary of State Wes Allen have filed several emergency motions to ask the Supreme Court to lift its injunction quickly, but as of Thursday morning, the court has not acted.
Senate floor action
The Senate took up its bill dealing with State Senate Districts 25 and 26 at 4:00 p.m. As senators were gathering on the floor, demonstrators were gathering steps away in the lobby for a sit-in to express anger over the possible result of the Legislature’s actions.
Moments later, as the Senate had just begun its discussion on the bill, a tornado warning was issued for Montgomery and alerts began buzzing on phones throughout the building. A tornado never developed, but a severe thunderstorm brought torrential rains causing flooding around and inside the State House.
Eventually, the State House alarms sounded and security began to evacuate the building. But before leaving the floor, senators called for a final vote and passed the special primary bill, sending it to the House.
Full story.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Claire Harrison and originally published by Alabama Daily News.
Share with others: