RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Supreme Court on Thursday invalidated a voter‑approved constitutional amendment that would have allowed Democratic lawmakers to redraw the state’s congressional districts, ruling that the General Assembly did not follow required constitutional procedures when advancing the measure.
In a 6–1 decision, the court found that lawmakers violated Article XII, Section 1 of the Virginia Constitution, which requires two legislative approvals of a proposed amendment with a general election held between those votes. The court determined that the second approval occurred after early voting had already begun for the 2025 general election, preventing voters from considering the amendment during the election cycle.
The ruling nullifies the April 21 statewide referendum in which voters approved the amendment. The court wrote that the procedural error “irreparably undermines the integrity of the constitutional amendment process,” rendering the referendum invalid.
With the amendment void, the state’s current congressional map — drawn in 2021 and resulting in a 6–5 Democratic majority — will remain in place for the 2026 midterm elections and through the rest of the decade.
Democratic lawmakers had proposed a new map that analysts said could have created a 10–1 Democratic advantage. The court’s decision prevents those changes from taking effect before the next federal election cycle.
Republican leaders praised the ruling, saying it upheld constitutional requirements. Democratic officials criticized the outcome, arguing that the referendum reflected the will of voters and should have remained in force.
The decision comes as several states continue to face legal battles over redistricting following recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings affecting the Voting Rights Act and mid‑decade map changes.