More than 6,000 voters in a newly formed congressional district in Alabama received postcards with incorrect voting information ahead of Tuesday's primary. The district was redrawn to increase Black voting power, making this error particularly concerning for advocates aiming to boost Black representation and Democrats' chances of flipping the U.S. House in November.
The Montgomery County Board of Registrars reported that due to a software glitch, some voters were misidentified as living in the wrong congressional district. However, voters were still able to cast their ballots for the correct candidates at the polls. The county has been working to rectify the issue by sending notices to affected voters.
Montgomery County now falls within the 2nd Congressional District following a federal court's decision to redraw congressional lines in response to a Supreme Court ruling that found the state had diluted the voting power of Black residents, violating the Voting Rights Act. This move aims to create a district where Black voters make up a significant portion of the population.
The redrawn map has led to a competitive primary race in the 2nd District, with the potential for electing two Black congressional representatives from Alabama for the first time. Black residents now constitute nearly 49% of the 2nd district's voting-age population.
The error in the postcards could have discouraged Black voters from participating in the election, potentially impacting the outcome of the race. State officials have acknowledged the mistake and are working to address the issue to ensure voters are correctly listed in their respective districts.
Despite this incident, Super Tuesday, the biggest day of the primary calendar, saw only sporadic voting problems across the country. In Texas' Travis County, some voters experienced issues during check-in, but these were swiftly resolved by election officials.
