Virginia Supreme Court Nullifies April Redistricting Referendum, Keeps Congressional Map

Claim 1: Vote totals The referendum recorded roughly 1.6 million yes votes and 1.5 million no votes.

Evidence Official results from the Virginia Department of Elections show the measure passed 51.69% to 48.31%, translating to just over three million total votes—about 1.6 million in favor and 1.5 million against.

Verdict True.

Analysis The percentages align precisely with the reported vote counts, confirming the article’s figures.

---

Claim 2: Court’s basis for invalidation The Supreme Court struck down the referendum on procedural, not substantive, grounds.

Evidence Multiple outlets report the court ruled the General Assembly violated Article XII, Section 1 of the Virginia Constitution by failing to provide required notice and timing for the amendment. The decision focused on these procedural breaches, not the referendum’s outcome.

Verdict True.

Analysis All coverage attributes the nullification to the legislature’s non‑compliance with constitutional rules, confirming the claim.

---

Claim 3: Impact on congressional map The ruling leaves Virginia’s congressional districts unchanged, preserving the current 6‑5 Democratic‑Republican split.

Evidence Reports state that because the voter‑approved map was voided, the existing delegation—six Democrats and five Republicans—remains. The proposed map, which would have shifted the balance to 10‑1, is no longer in effect.

Verdict True.

Analysis With the referendum nullified, no new map can be implemented, so the status quo endures.

---

What to watch next Watch for legislative attempts to address the procedural flaws and for other states’ redistricting battles as the 2024 midterms approach.