LWV of Southeast Alabama

This story was originally published in Generations Magazine.

There is no “right” age to give back to your community. But for members of the League of Women Voters (LWV)—50 state League (and the District of Columbia), and more than 750-plus local leagues— there are key ways that leadership, which includes many volunteers older than age 50, is working to revolutionize our civic life. That work includes bringing people together, inspiring hope around government and expanding the franchise to new citizens.

In the last decade, the US Supreme Court has severely weakened the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was widely agreed to be the most influential civil rights law in our history.  

This term, the Court considers Section 2 in Merrill v. Milligan. It threatens to weaken a well-established precedent lower courts have used for decades to evaluate redistricting plans that are alleged to be racially discriminatory.

This blog explores the history of Section 2 and its impact on discriminatory redistricting plans, explains the dispute in Milligan, and previews potential next steps to protect voting rights. 

This story was originally published by AL.com.

People who want to learn more about how state lawmakers make decisions about education, criminal justice, taxes, health care, and other issues have a new way to stay informed.

The Alabama Channel, a website created by the League of Women Voters of Alabama Education Fund, went live this week.

LWVUS and LWV of Alabama stood in solidarity with Alabama voters in Merrill v. Milligan as it was heard before the US Supreme Court. Both Leagues had previously submitted an amicus brief in support of the Milligan plaintiffs.

In 2022, the League of Women Voters launched a tour to build power together across the south. The tour crescendoed to a South Region Movement Building Training that will bring together leaders from the Southern States to cast a collective vision, develop a shared analysis and strategy, and deepen relationships to manifest the Democracy that our communities deserve.

The tour will continue in 2023.

LWV of Alabama, LWV of the United States and partners submitted an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in Merrill v. Milligan, outlining how Black Alabamians have been systematically deprived of their right to elect candidates of their choice to represent their interests in Congress.