Virginia Supreme Court throws out redistricting referendum results

"The decision effectively blocks Democrats from redrawing congressional maps mid-decade. That's after the state spent $5.2 million to pay for the special election, and outside groups raised nearly $100 million to sway voters. The new map would have been in effect for the November midterms and was expected to shift the state's congressional split from 6-5 favoring Democrats to 10-1."

"A central part of the case during oral arguments concerned what qualifies as the “next general election” under Virginia's constitution. Virginia law requires amendments to move through two General Assembly sessions: one before the House has an election (last November) and one after. Republicans have argued that lawmakers had improperly advanced the amendment after early voting had already begun."

"Meanwhile, Democrats have said that an “election” is a single day in November - a position some justices appeared skeptical of. The state Supreme Court overturning voters' decision is rare, but it happened at least once in 1958, per Cardinal News. The high court ruled that Arlington residents had voted on an unconstitutional law in 1956 and struck down the election results."

"If Democrats appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, it wouldn't be the first time Virginia election disputes have landed there. In 2024, former Attorney General Jason Miyares won a last-minute U.S. Supreme Court ruling, allowing Virginia to resume its voter purge program days before Election Day. Whether Democrats escalate the fight remains to be seen."

Virginia’s Supreme Court decision prevents the state from implementing a new congressional district map mid-decade. The state had spent $5.2 million for a special election, while outside groups raised nearly $100 million to influence voters. The map would have taken effect for the November midterms and was expected to change the congressional split from 6-5 for Democrats to 10-1. Democrats argued the move would counter Republican-led states that redraw districts to add GOP seats in a closely divided House. A key issue during oral arguments centered on what qualifies as the “next general election” under Virginia’s constitution, including whether the amendment process was improperly advanced after early voting began.

Read at Axios