April 27 (UPI) -- The Virginia Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Monday in a case filed by Republicans in the state who call a voter-approved amendment to the state's Constitution allowing it to redistrict mid-decade if other states do so first.
Virginia voted on April 21 narrowly approved the referendum 51.33% to 48.67%, clearing the way for the state's General Assembly to remap its congressional districts ahead of this November's mid-term election.
The amendment would allow the state to temporarily adopt a new map that includes redrawn districts wherein 10 or the state's 11 congressional districts would favor Democrats, as opposed to the current maps that favor them in six districts.
Virginia's move to redistrict is one of several attempts by both Democrat and Republican run states that have redrawn their congressional districts in a tit-for-tat attempt to tilt the power in the U.S. House of Representatives.
While the back and forth started with Texas after President Donald Trump pushed for the state to help Republicans in the mid-term elections, California and Florida are among a handful of states that have also embarked on efforts to redistrict.
