Former State Del. Kimberly A. Taylor spoke out against a voter referendum on congressional redistricting, saying, “This election was illegal.”
Taylor made the statement on social media following a Tazewell County Circuit Court ruling that blocked certification of the special election results on the congressional redistricting amendment, as reported by the Virginia Mercury. The judge determined that the process used by the General Assembly to advance the measure violated multiple state constitutional and statutory requirements for special sessions. Oral arguments in the related challenge are scheduled for the Virginia Supreme Court next week. This followed voter approval of the referendum the day prior.
The proposed amendment would have enabled lawmakers to redraw congressional districts outside of the normal once-a-decade census cycle as a temporary measure, according to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections. Virginia voters approved the referendum by a margin of 51.45% to 48.55%, with nearly 3.1 million ballots cast. Rural regions of the state have raised concerns that new maps could diminish their voice in Congress by shifting power toward urban and suburban areas. The current balance in Virginia’s congressional delegation stands at six Democrats and five Republicans.
The proposed redistricting changes have implications for representation across Virginia, with observers noting that the narrow margin underscores ongoing divisions among voters about when and how district lines should be drawn.
Taylor has served in the House of Delegates representing District 82 and is a small business owner operating auto repair shops with her husband in Chesterfield, according to her official website.
