Democrats' redistricting in Virginia is upended by state Supreme Court
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- The Virginia Supreme Court invalidated a voter-approved Democratic congressional redistricting plan, ruling 4-3 that procedural rules were violated when the legislature placed the constitutional amendment on the ballot after early voting had begun.
- The court's decision nullifies the April 21 vote approving the amendment, undermining Democrats' hopes to gain up to four additional U.S. House seats in the state ahead of the midterm elections.
- The ruling is part of a broader national struggle over mid-decade redistricting, with Republicans gaining advantages in several states following recent court decisions and legislative actions.
- The legal dispute centered on the definition of "election," with the court agreeing that early voting counts as part of the election period, making the legislature’s initial approval of the amendment too late under Virginia's constitution.
- Democrats criticized the decision as overturning the will of the voters, while Republicans viewed it as a sign of momentum going into the midterms.
