Virginia Supreme Court ruling poses a serious threat to democracy: experts

Virginia's Supreme Court ruled 4-3 on Friday that the state's Democratic-led legislature violated procedural requirements when placing a constitutional amendment on the ballot authorizing mid-decade redistricting.

Justice D. Arthur Kelsey wrote, “This violation irreparably undermines the integrity of the resulting referendum vote and renders it null and void,” striking down the narrowly approved measure enacted two weeks earlier in response to gerrymandering in GOP-led states.

President Donald Trump hailed the decision as a "huge win for the Republican Party."

"The decision overturns the will of voters for technical reasons and gives Republicans a leg up for the 2026 midterms," warned Democracy Docket on Bluesky. "The decision marks a significant and terrifying moment in our democracy as the court allowed an election to be cancelled after its completion."

Democratic Virginia delegates criticized the decision as undermining redistricting reform efforts and questioned the court's impartiality, given lawmakers' reappointment authority over justices.

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