WASHINGTON, D.C. – Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote responds to the Supreme Court’s decision in Allen v Milligan, which reaffirmed state government cannot limit voting on the basis of race, including through “vote dilution.”
The Supreme Court issued its decision on Allen v. Milligan on June 8, 2023 that Alabama had discriminated against Black voters when the state legislature redrew Congressional district boundaries after the 2020 census. Alabama must now draw a second-majority Black district while redrawing its congressional maps.This case upheld section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits state and local government from imposing any voting rule that hinders the right of voters on account of race, color, or membership in a language minority group.
“The Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Alabama’s discriminatory maps and uphold section 2 of the Voting Rights Act will not only empower Black Alabamans, but for voters of color across the country – including Asian Americans and Pacific Islander voters,” said Christine Chen, Executive Director of Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote.”
“We too often see states disenfranchise minority voters to dilute our power – Alabama’s congressional maps are far from the only example. For example, Texas’ latest congressional maps divided up the center of the state’s Asian American population across multiple districts – despite the community having long-held roots in the region. The issue of voter suppression, whether it is racial gerrymandering or restricting our ability to vote in general, directly impacts our communities and our ability to advocate for ourselves.”
“Today, we celebrate this victory in the fight for voting rights. Tomorrow, we must continue our movement to organize and advocate for laws and maps that empower all voters and secure our democracy – no matter your race, color, gender, or zip code.”
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About APIAVote: Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) is the nation’s leading nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to engaging, educating, and empowering Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities to strengthen and sustain a culture of civic engagement.See our website for more information at https://www.apiavote.org/
