Article Text
Virginia voters will decide whether to activate a temporary congressional map that could alter the partisan makeup of the state’s U.S. House delegation for the next three election cycles.
The statewide referendum asks voters to approve or reject a constitutional amendment allowing the General Assembly to adopt new congressional boundaries through Oct. 31, 2030. A “yes” vote puts the map passed by lawmakers into effect, while a “no” vote leaves the current districts in place.
The proposal emerged in response to Republican-led mid-decade redistricting efforts in Texas and other states aimed at protecting the GOP’s narrow U.S. House majority after November’s midterm elections.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed House Bill 29 on Feb. 20, approving the new Virginia map. If a majority votes “yes” and the results are certified, the boundaries established by the legislation will take effect automatically.
Virginia’s U.S. House candidates have already been campaigning as though the proposed districts will become official.
With early voting underway for the April 21 special election, competing yard signs in neighboring Fairfax County properties reflect the divide over the referendum.