The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld West Virginia’s
congressional redistricting plan against a challenge that small
population variations among its three congressional districts
violate the Constitution. The justices, in an unsigned opinion,
reversed a lower federal court ruling that struck down the plan
because of the population differences. The high court said the
West Virginia plan easily passes muster and said the population
variations are too small to trigger constitutional concerns
about the principle of one person, one vote. In addition, the
court said the plan adopted by the West Virginia legislature
served other legitimate goals, including keeping counties intact
and not pitting incumbents against each other. “It is clear that
West Virginia has carried its burden,” the high court said. The
justices previously blocked the ruling to allow the state to
conduct elections under the map approved by state lawmakers. The
lower court still can consider challenges to the plan under the
state Constitution. Both