Virginia Supreme Court Invalidates Voter-Approved Congressional Maps

The Virginia Supreme Court ruled Friday that the General Assembly violated the state constitution by submitting a proposed constitutional amendment on redistricting after early voting in the 2025 general election had already begun. The court ruled 4-3 that the new maps cannot be used and declared them “null and void.”

The ruling affirms a lower court decision from Tazewell County that had been placed on hold to allow the April 21 referendum to proceed. Voters narrowly approved the amendment by three percentage points. Approximately 3 million early ballots were cast, representing about 40 percent of the total votes in the general election.

The legislature had passed the amendment in two sessions separated by an election, with the second vote occurring after a new legislative session began in January. It also approved a separate bill in February that outlined the new congressional districts contingent on voter approval of the amendment.

The current maps were drawn by a court after a bipartisan redistricting commission failed to reach agreement following the 2020 census. Under those maps, the state’s 11-member U.S. House delegation consists of six Democrats and five Republicans. The court noted that 47 percent of Virginia voters supported Republican congressional candidates in 2024.

Chief Justice Cleo Powell dissented. She wrote that “the election for the purpose of considering the amendment does not include the early voting period.”

Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Don Scott said in a statement, “We respect the court. But we will keep fighting for a democracy where voters — not politicians — have the final say.”

The Virginia Supreme Court’s seven justices are appointed by the state legislature. The decision leaves the existing court-drawn map in place for Virginia’s 11 congressional districts ahead of the November midterm elections.