MONTGOMERY (AP) — The predominantly black Alabama Democratic Conference and others have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Alabama House and Senate districts that were redrawn earlier this year by the Legislature.

The lawsuit filed today claims legislators drew the districts in a way that caps the number of areas where black candidates have a realistic chance. The lawsuit says the districts adopted by the Republican-majority Legislature violate the U.S. and Alabama constitutions and the federal Voting Rights Act.

ADC chairman Joe Reed says the new district lines limit the number of blacks that can serve in the House and Senate. He says the boundaries prevent blacks and other minorities from forming coalitions to increase their voting power.

Another federal court challenge to the redrawn districts was filed earlier by black legislators.