Virginia to vote on Democrat-favored redistricting after lawmakers advance plan

Virginia joins states from California to Florida in mid-decade redistricting push after party-line senate vote

Virginia lawmakers approved a measure on Friday that could ultimately clear the way for Democrats to redraw the state’s congressional maps and add as many as four Democratic-leaning seats.

The legislature sent voters a constitutional amendment that would allow lawmakers to redraw the lines this year and circumvent a panel that is supposed to be in charge of drawing district lines. Democrats currently represent six of Virginia’s 11 congressional districts, and have said they will pursue a plan in which they are favored in either nine or 10 of the state’s congressional districts.