The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday overturned the state’s redistricting ballot measure that would have given Democrats an edge in four House districts, dealing the party a massive blow ahead of the midterms.
The ruling now gives Republicans a clear lead in the gerrymandering efforts over the last year, which were further inflamed by the Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act decision last week, bolstering the party’s chances of holding the House in an unfavorable political environment.
Virginia voters passed the measure last month. But the state’s top court ruled that legislative Democrats did not follow the proper procedure when rushing the referendum to the ballot.
Justice D. Arthur Kelsey, writing for the majority, said Democrats “submitted a proposed constitutional amendment to Virginia voters in an unprecedented manner” that violated state law.
