A Virginia circuit court has invalidated Tuesday’s special election on a constitutional amendment and redistricting plan, halting certification and blocking immediate changes to congressional maps.
The ruling was issued by Tazewell County Circuit Court Chief Judge Jack C. Hurley Jr., who found the entire amendment process unconstitutional and declared it invalid “from the start,” in the order.
In his written order, Hurley concluded that required procedural steps under the Virginia Constitution were not properly followed before lawmakers placed the measure on the ballot, making the referendum legally defective.
Hurley also wrote that the ballot language given to voters was misleading and failed constitutional standards for clarity. He specifically pointed to wording that suggested the amendment would “restore fairness,” writing that it could improperly influence voters by implying that opposing the measure would be unjust. That defect, the court ruled, independently violated constitutional requirements for ballot presentation.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Isabel Soisson over at Fox 5 DC
