Overview
- The 48-page complaint, filed in Tazewell County Circuit Court, seeks an emergency injunction to stop the special election, block ballot transmission, and keep the amendment off voters’ ballots.
- Plaintiffs argue the proposal violates Article XII by lacking an intervening general election between legislative approvals, starting early voting fewer than 90 days after final passage, and using misleading ballot language.
- The RNC also claims the measure unconstitutionally targets specific localities, asserting the legislature lacks authority to craft such a tailored amendment.
- The Virginia Supreme Court has allowed the referendum process to continue on an expedited schedule, with early voting set for March 6 and the special election slated for April 21.
- If approved, the amendment would temporarily shift congressional mapmaking from the voter-approved independent commission to the legislature, a change reported as potentially yielding up to four additional Democratic U.S. House seats.