Virginia court allows a referendum on Democrat-led redistricting that could flip 4 US House seats
Source: AP
Updated 5:22 PM EST, March 4, 2026
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — For the second time, Virginia’s Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that voters can cast ballots on a Democrat-led congressional redistricting plan that could help the party win four more U.S. House seats, as the justices review legal challenges to the effort.
The court ruled that a statewide referendum can be held on April 21 on whether to authorize mid-decade redistricting, upending a temporary restraining order put in place by a Tazewell County judge last month. It comes after the top court made a similar ruling last month in a related case.
The court still has not ruled on whether the mid-decade redistricting amendment and referendum are legal, indicating that the scheduled April vote could be all for nothing if the top court upholds a lower court ruling blocking the effort. Early voting on the referendum is supposed to begin Friday.
Since late February, officials in Tazewell County have refrained from preparing for the referendum in light of the restraining order. On Wednesday, Tazewell Director of Elections Brian Earls said he would work hard to ensure early voting would start in his county come Friday. “I believe we will be ready,” he said in an email. “If not, it will not be for lack of effort.”
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/virginia-redistricting-democrats-referendum-court-lawsuits-09784036e696bbe8d4d254e15079a5d8
REFERENCES
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143615793
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143618799
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143619323
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