Virginia Supreme Court weighs legality of redistricting plan after voters approved it - BERITAJA

The Virginia Supreme Court heard oral arguments Monday connected the legality of a law amendment voters approved past week that allows Democrats to instrumentality a much favorable legislature representation up of the midterm elections.

Attorneys for the Democrats successful the lawsuit were peppered pinch reliable questions by the justices, signaling immoderate skepticism of their arguments.

Republicans person challenged the process successful respective tribunal cases, arguing that the Democratic-controlled Legislature made procedural errors successful putting the amendment connected the ballot, which successful move invalidates the results of Tuesday's typical election.

To amend the constitution, lawmakers must walk an amendment successful 2 consecutive legislative sessions pinch an predetermination successful between. Republicans person based on that Democrats first passed the amendment erstwhile early voting had already begun up of Virginia's 2025 elections, meaning they grounded to meet that requirement.

Democrats person said that Election Day itself, not the commencement of early voting, is the cardinal date, and that voters had plentifulness of clip to amended themselves connected the issue.

“If we’re talking about the intent of protecting the people’s ballot and the protecting the people’s expertise to measurement in, past I consciousness for illustration it would beryllium patently unfair to override the people’s ballot because of a interest that they had not gotten the opportunity to sound their sentiment months earlier,” Virginia Solicitor General Tillman Beckenridge said successful court.

“What is your position — your client’s position — regarding a law amendment that is adopted astatine 6 p.m. connected Election Day pinch an hr near astatine the polls? Is that the adjacent wide is that still the adjacent wide election?” 1 justness asked.

Beckenridge said the state's position is that the amendment must travel earlier Election Day, not connected it.

Earlier this year, the Virginia Supreme Court had permitted the typical predetermination to return place, but reserved the correct to norm connected the merits of the lawsuit astatine a later date. Voters approved the redistricting referendum by 3 points.

Virginia Democrats pursued a law amendment to temporarily bypass a bipartisan committee that controls the redistricting process successful the state. Democrats' redrawn representation could consequence successful the statement representing 10 of Virginia's 11 legislature districts aft the November midterms, up from the existent six.

The scheme came successful consequence to President Donald Trump urging GOP-led states to redraw their maps to statement up the party's constrictive House majority.