Supreme Court rejects appeal on redistricting

The U.S. Supreme Court on May 15 rejected an emergency request by Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones to overturn a ruling by the state Supreme Court that invalidated a vote on redistricting.

The one-sentence decision by the justices does not give a reason and does not provide a vote count.

In April, Virginians passed a constitutional amendment proposed by Democrats to redraw the congressional districts. The measure would have allowed Democrats to flip four seats in the November midterms. It was aimed at countering Republican-led efforts in other states.

Related story: Virginia redistricting ruling challenged in the Supreme Court

The amendment had been approved by voters in a special election on April 21. The Virginia Supreme Court on May 8 struck down the constitutional amendment on a 4-3 vote on procedural grounds.

The appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was the last-ditch effort by Jones and other Virginia Democrats to block the Virginia Supreme Court ruling and restore the redistricting map approved by voters.