Virginia Supreme Court Voids Redistricting Vote in 4-3 Ruling, Keeping 2021 Maps for 2026
Updated
Updated · Fluvanna Review · May 15
Virginia Supreme Court Voids Redistricting Vote in 4-3 Ruling, Keeping 2021 Maps for 2026
9 articles · Updated · Fluvanna Review · May 15
A 4-3 Virginia Supreme Court ruling nullified the statewide vote approving a constitutional amendment for mid-decade congressional redistricting, leaving the court-drawn 2021 maps in place for the 2026 elections.
Justice D. Arthur Kelsey wrote that lawmakers failed the constitution’s two-session amendment process because their first approval came on Oct. 31, 2025, after early voting had begun and more than 1 million ballots were already cast.
The blocked amendment could have reshaped Virginia’s current 6-5 Democratic-Republican House split; analyses of draft maps suggested Democrats might have gained a 10-1 edge in strong election years.
The ruling also scrapped proposed local shifts such as moving Fluvanna County into a heavily Democratic "College Town" district, while Republican Rep. John McGuire praised the decision and Democrat Tom Perriello switched to a 5th District run.
How could this Virginia ruling on early voting and legislative timing impact constitutional amendment processes across other states?
What happens to the $75 million in 'dark money' spent on a referendum the state's highest court just threw out?