Marshall Seeks 3 PM Wednesday Ruling to Allow 2023 Map

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall is pressing a federal court for a rapid decision that could reshape the State’s upcoming elections, asking for a ruling by 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6 — just days before the May 19 primary.

In an emergency motion filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Marshall is seeking to lift injunctions that block the State from using its legislatively approved congressional map. The request comes on the heels of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that altered the legal framework surrounding redistricting claims.

“The Supreme Court has confirmed that the claims that led to the injunctions against Alabama’s map are no longer viable,” Marshall said. “We are asking the court to lift those injunctions so that Alabama can conduct its congressional elections using the map its legislature lawfully enacted.”

But the heart of the filing is not just legal — it’s timing.

Marshall’s motion explicitly asks the court to act no later than 3:00 p.m. on May 6, a narrow window meant to give State officials enough time to prepare ballots, adjust procedures, and avoid disruption ahead of the May 19 primary.

That looming deadline has added urgency to an already fast-moving legal fight. State leaders are working across multiple fronts, including appeals courts and the U.S. Supreme Court, to restore previously blocked maps before voters head to the polls.

“Alabama deserves the same opportunity as every other State to conduct its elections in an orderly manner using a map drawn by its own legislature,” Marshall said. “I will continue to do everything in my power to make that a reality.”

The temporal pressure is compounded by broader State action. Governor Kay Ivey has already called a special legislative session to prepare for possible changes to election logistics, including adjusting dates or procedures if courts allow new maps to take effect — and that Special Session is even now underway.

The May 19 primary remains fixed for now, but officials have acknowledged that court decisions in the coming days could force rapid adjustments.

Marshall’s latest filing is part of a broader legal push following the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which State officials argue undercuts prior rulings against Alabama’s maps. In recent days, the Attorney General and Secretary of State have filed multiple emergency motions at different levels of the federal judiciary, all seeking swift relief.

With the election date closing in, the court’s response — expected within hours, not weeks — could determine which map Alabama voters see when they head to the polls.

The full motion may be read at THIS LINK.