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

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.