Ahead of the 2024 election, several states have seen high-profile redistricting battles unfold, even reaching the U.S. Supreme Court. 

According to NBC News, one of the most controversial redistricting battles is happening in Alabama, where state Republicans have now refused to redraw a map at the order of the Supreme Court.

The high court, earlier this year, reaffirmed a federal court order that ordered the GOP-controlled state legislature to "redraw an earlier map after the Supreme Court reaffirmed a federal court order to include two districts where Black voters make up voting-age majorities, “or something quite close to it," NBC News noted.

The redistricting process in any state typically faces intense scrutiny by both sides of the aisle, especially when both chambers of Congress are so narrowly controlled by one party or the other.

SCOTUS defied

Last week, Alabama Republicans approved a new redistricting map, which includes one majority-Black district, and a second district where 40% of the voters are Black.

BREAKING: Alabama Republicans defy U.S. Supreme Court order by passing a new congressional map that includes only one majority-Black district. https://t.co/GHA90mZANM

— NBC News (@NBCNews) July 21, 2023

NBC News noted:

The bill passed the House in a 75-28 vote after the Senate voted 24 to 6 in favor of the revised map.

The map was completed Friday afternoon — hours before the court-ordered deadline for the Legislature to draw up new boundaries — as a compromise between the House and Senate versions.

Gov. Kay Ivey (R) wasted no time in signing the newly redrawn maps into law on Friday evening, clearly bucking the Supreme Court's order. The governor issued a statement on the move.

"Following the U.S. Supreme Court order, I called the Alabama Legislature into a special session to readdress our congressional map," Ivey said.

She added, "The Legislature knows our state, our people and our districts better than the federal courts or activist groups, and I am pleased that they answered the call, remained focused and produced new districts ahead of the court deadline."

Social media reacts

Not surprisingly, social media users heaped equal amounts of praise and criticism over the redrawn maps.

"Obviously they were never going to comply. Ohio laid the roadmap already. GOP voters don’t care that they are defying SCOTUS so there will be no repercussions. GOP has abandoned democracy. It doesn’t work for them any more so this will be the norm moving forward," one Twitter user wrote.

In contrast, another Twitter user wrote, "Why should the draw districts based on race?"

NBC News explained what happens next in the ongoing legal battle:

The plaintiffs plan to submit objections in the coming weeks under the current court order, and federal judges will consider them at the Aug. 14 hearing. The court can chose to implement maps drawn by outside experts if it agrees that the map is another racial gerrymander.