The U.S. Supreme Court allowed votes to be cast in illegally drawn congressional districts in Alabama during the 2022 elections due to the use of the “Purcell principle”.

The big picture: The Purcell principle, named after Purcell v. Gonzalez, a 2006 voter ID requirement case, states that federal courts should avoid making changes to voting rules close to an election to prevent voter and administrator confusion.
* The Supreme Court permitted Alabama’s congressional maps drawn in a way that likely violated the Voting Rights Act, to be used in the 2022 elections.
* The Purcell principle is now being referenced in other federal court rulings in redistricting lawsuits, leading to growing concern about voter rights.

Looking back: The map that was used in the 2022 Alabama elections was later confirmed as illegal, and the state lawmakers are currently in a special session to approve new district lines.
* The Supreme Court’s decision in the Alabama case sets a precedent, causing similar lower court rulings to be blocked in other states.

Concerns raised: Despite the map drawing process being delayed due to the 2020 census results, there were fears that changing the electoral map too close to the voting day would confuse voters.
* A former Justice Department deputy chief raises issues of equity, arguing that delaying the redrawing of fair and nondiscriminatory voting maps takes away voters’ right to an equitable vote.

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