Virginia judge blocks vote on Democrats' redistricting referendum
Democracy Docket • • general
Key Points:
- A Virginia county judge, Jack Hurley Jr., blocked voters from deciding on a constitutional amendment that would let Democrats redraw the state's congressional map to counter GOP mid-decade gerrymanders in other states.
- The Republican National Committee (RNC) filed the motion, claiming the amendment was unconstitutional and the referendum ballot question misleading; Hurley granted a temporary restraining order to halt the referendum scheduled for April 21.
- The amendment, passed by Virginia’s Democratic legislature, aims to allow redistricting if other states engage in mid-decade map changes, potentially giving Democrats up to four new congressional seats.
- Hurley’s ruling was quickly overturned by the Virginia Supreme Court, allowing the redistricting vote to proceed, while
