RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday allowed a referendum that could pave the way for a new congressional map that heavily favors Democrats to appear on the ballot this spring.
The ruling is a victory for Democrats as they seek to pick up as many as four seats in this year’s midterm elections with their redistricting effort. Voters will decide in a special election on April 21 whether to approve a constitutional amendment that would allow the redrawn map to go into effect.
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Still, the ruling doesn’t end the broader legal challenge over Democrats’ redistricting maneuver. The state Supreme Court said it may schedule oral arguments and laid out a schedule for opening briefs in the case. A final ruling would almost certainly come after the special election.
Democrats currently control six of Virginia’s 11 congressional districts.
The Democratic-controlled Legislature approved a measure to amend the state Constitution twice and scheduled the April special election. But last month, a lower court ruled that Democratic lawmakers had erred procedurally.
*This report was originally taken from NBC News and includes minimal edits from the WSLS 10 News Team*