Virginia Supreme Court overrules state's redistricting vote

May 8 (UPI) -- The Virginia Supreme Court ruled Friday that a measure to redraw the state's congressional districts to add more Democratic seats violates the state's constitution.

On April 21, Virginia voters approved the redistricting effort by 51.33%. It would have added four districts in heavily Democratic areas, likely sending four new representatives to the House of Representatives.

The Virginia court ruled 4-3 that Democratic legislators had put the amendment to allow for a new map to voters in "an unprecedented manner" that violated the state's constitution.

"This violation irreparably undermines the integrity of the resulting referendum vote and renders it null and void," the court said.

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For months, states have worked to redraw districts mid-decade to help candidates win in this fall's midterm elections. Republican states, like Texas and Missouri, have redrawn their districts to help secure more Republican congresspeople. Democratic states, like California and Virginia, have done the same to secure more Democratic seats. Other states, like Florida and Mississippi are now considering redistricting since the Supreme Court struck down parts of the Voting Rights Act.

Republicans sued in Virginia, arguing that the amendment's language was misleading, that the new districts were not drawn compactly, that state law required clerks to post notices about the amendment months earlier, and that it was improper to vote on redistricting when the session had been called to discuss budget issues.

Republicans could get another 14 seats if voters follow suit. Democrats could gain six. But President Donald Trump's low polling on the economy and the war in Iran could work in Democrats' favor. The party only needs three more House seats to take the majority.

Virginians for Fair Maps opposed the Democrats' redistricting referendum and celebrated the court ruling in a statement.

"Virginians spoke loud and clear in 2020 that voters should pick their elected officials, not the other way around. Today, their voices were heard over the shamefully deceptive rhetoric and language of an unconstitutional effort by Richmond Democrats to carve up the state for themselves," said group co-chairs Jason Miyares, the Republican former state attorney general, and Eric Cantor, the Republican former U.S. House majority leader, NBC reported.

Virginia House Speaker Don Scott, a Democrat, said in a statement, "We respect the decision of the Supreme Court of Virginia. This was always about more than one election - it was about whether the voices of the people matter. And no decision can erase what Virginians made clear at the ballot box."

Democratic Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones said in a statement that the court "put politics over the rule of law."

"My team is carefully reviewing this unprecedented order and we are evaluating every legal pathway forward to defend the will of the people and protect the integrity of Virginia's elections," NBC reported Jones said.

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Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La.,, speaks during an observance celebrating the 75th National Day of Prayer in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo