On January 20, a 3-judge U.S. District Court invalidated twelve Alabama legislative districts. The court found that the legislature, when drawing the boundaries, had packed so many black voters into some districts that black influence as a whole was diminished. The boundaries of three State Senate districts and nine State House districts were struck down. The legislature, which convenes February 7, will now draw new boundaries. Of course, the boundaries of many, and possibly all, districts will be changed. When one changes the boundaries of a particular district obviously that changes the boundaries of neighbor districts.

Alabama does not elect legislators in presidential years. They are all elected to four-year terms in midterm years. There is no court order for a special election in 2017. The case is Alabama Legislative Black Caucus v State of Alabama, 2:12cv-691. Here is the decision. The case is quite old. The same 3-judge panel had upheld the districts several years ago, but in 2015 the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled that the lower court did not use the proper methodology and sent the case back. Thanks to Rick Hasen for this news.