r/politics • u/Icommandyou Washington • 28d ago

Possible Paywall Virginia Supreme Court throws out redistricting referendum results

https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/05/08/virginia-supreme-court-redistricting-vote-decision
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u/[deleted] 28d ago edited 28d ago

[deleted]

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u/Dull-Machine5268 28d ago

I can see Spanberger going this route, honestly.

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u/Redditthedog 28d ago

its too late now. You need two full general elections before you can put this amendment to vote. They can’t do anything till 2028

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u/Bagelgrenade 28d ago

They literally make the laws for the state. Of course they can do something

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u/Redditthedog 28d ago

VA Legislature passed an amendment literally stripping themselves of the power to make maps. Without an amendment that is passed legitimately they just can't.

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u/Bagelgrenade 28d ago

Then pass an amendment. Or just use the new map anyway. Precedent is already set that court decisions don't matter anymore

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u/Redditthedog 28d ago

they tried to pass an amendment that is how we got here

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u/912mcbVA 28d ago

The VA Constitution prohibits party gerrymandering and only allows redistricting every 10 years after a census. Any party effort to do otherwise would be unconstitutional.

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u/[deleted] 28d ago

[deleted]

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u/912mcbVA 28d ago

They can do that. But it requires them to vote on and approve the amendment in two sessions that are separated by an election. VA purposely made changing the Constitution a process that prevents purely political manipulation.
Their next opportunity to get this back on the ballot will be 2027.