A US magistrate has invalidated the result of the referendum organized by the state of Virginia on a controversial electoral redistricting, which could potentially allow Democrats to gain four additional seats in Congress.
The order dated Wednesday from Judge Jack Hurley of the Tazewell County Court raises a series of procedural issues justifying, in his opinion, declaring the previous day’s vote “null and void.” “The court definitively prohibits […] any measure aimed at giving effect to the constitutional amendment proposal,” the document states. Redrawing districts in a partisan manner with bizarre geographical boundaries is an old American electoral recipe known as “gerrymandering.” The referendum in Virginia, a large east coast state, was seen as a response to the redistricting initiated by Donald Trump and Republicans in states such as Texas.
“An Unfair Victory,” Trump Says
Donald Trump called it a “rigged” victory on Tuesday on his Truth Social platform. “The Democrats got away with another unfair victory,” declared the Republican president, known for his accusations of electoral fraud, including the baseless ones concerning his defeat in the 2020 presidential election against Joe Biden.
The White House tenant regularly denounces mail-in voting, allowed in many states, and holds it as one of the main reasons for his defeat. In late March, he signed a decree to tighten regulations, a measure challenged in court by Democrats. Republicans, on the other hand, have filed multiple lawsuits to prevent redistricting in Virginia. Attorney General Jay Jones announced his intention to appeal Judge Hurley’s decision. “Virginia voters have spoken, and an activist judge should not have the right to veto the people’s vote,” he said.
