The Virginia Supreme Court overturned the results of a redistricting referendum narrowly approved by voters last month. The Friday, May 8, ruling follows a months-long legal battle over whether the referendum was constitutional. This decision blocks Democrats from redrawing congressional maps in the middle of a decade between censuses.
The state already spent more than $5 million in taxpayer funds to cover the special election. Another $100 million or so had been raised by outside groups to sway voters for the referendum, and the new map was expected to shift the state’s 6-5 congressional split to 10-1, giving Democrats several more seats in the House.
This ruling comes just a day after two other states – South Carolina and Tennessee – progress toward more Republican seats in the House in their own redistricting battles.
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