MONTGOMERY (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department has cleared Alabama's new legislative districts for use in the 2014 elections.

Assistant U.S. Attorney General Thomas Perez notified state Attorney General Luther Strange of the decision Friday. The Justice Department has to review new political boundaries in Alabama to make sure they don't violate the 1965 Voting Rights Act by disenfranchising black voters.

The co-chairman of the Legislature's Redistricting Committee, Republican Rep. Jim McClendon of Springville, says the committee worked hard to maintain minority legislative districts and to make sure the new district were fair to every racial group and area of the state.

The Legislature drew new districts last year for Congress and the State Board of Education. Those also got Justice Department approval. The new districts are based on the 2010 Census.