The Virginia Supreme Court struck down a voter-approved congressional redistricting amendment on Friday, May 8, 2026, ruling the process unconstitutional [1], [2], [4].
This decision prevents the implementation of new congressional maps just months before the midterm elections. Because the court invalidated the amendment, the state will continue using its existing maps for the 2026 election cycle [5].
In a 46-page opinion, the court determined that the General Assembly failed to adhere to the mandatory constitutional procedures required to place the redistricting amendment before the voters [4]. The ruling was decided by a narrow four-three vote [4].
"The General Assembly did not follow the required constitutional process when it put the redistricting amendment before voters," the Virginia Supreme Court said in its majority opinion [4].
While most reports indicate the ruling was issued on Friday, some sources noted a decision occurred as early as Wednesday, May 7, 2026 [3]. Despite these discrepancies in timing, the legal outcome remains the same: the referendum is void due to the procedural errors made by the legislature [3], [4].
The ruling effectively resets the redistricting landscape in the U.S. state, removing the changes that voters had previously approved at the ballot box [1], [2]. The court's focus remained on the legality of the process rather than the content of the maps themselves [4].
“The Virginia Supreme Court struck down a voter-approved congressional redistricting amendment.”
This ruling underscores the strict procedural requirements for constitutional amendments in Virginia. By invalidating the referendum on technical grounds, the court has maintained the political status quo for the 2026 midterms, preventing a shift in district boundaries that could have altered the competitive nature of several congressional seats.
