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Virginia voters have until April 21 to decide whether the General Assembly should temporarily gain the power to redraw the state’s congressional districts before the next once-a-decade cycle. Conflicting advertisements and political messages have left some voters confused about what the proposed constitutional amendment would do.
The ballot asks whether Virginia’s Constitution should be amended to let lawmakers adopt new congressional districts for upcoming elections, with the state’s standard redistricting process resuming after the 2040 census.
Virginia currently has 11 congressional districts. The normal redistricting process involves a commission of eight legislators and eight citizens, divided evenly between Republicans and Democrats. The districts were last redrawn in 2021 and ordinarily would be reconsidered in 2031.
The General Assembly has approved a proposed replacement map, but it would take effect only if voters approve the amendment.
What a “yes” vote would do
A “yes” vote would allow the General Assembly to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts before the next 10-year cycle. Supporters argue that Virginia should respond because other states have pursued mid-cycle redistricting.
The proposed map would be used for the 2026 congressional midterm elections. Responsibility for drawing the districts in 2031 would then return to the Virginia Redistricting Commission.
Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger and former President Barack Obama have appeared in television advertisements and other campaign messages supporting the amendment. They say it is needed to counter Republican-led redistricting in other states.
Supporters, including Virginians for Fair Elections and several Democratic political and social-action groups, have received approximately $21 million in donations.
What a “no” vote would do
A “no” vote would preserve Virginia’s once-a-decade redistricting system. The current congressional districts would remain until a possible adjustment in 2031 based on data from the 2030 census.
The commission failed to approve a map during its first and only redistricting effort after the 2020 census. Under state law, the Virginia Supreme Court then took responsibility for the process.
Former Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin and former Attorney General Jason Miyares oppose the amendment. Virginians for Fair Maps, a political action group directed by former Republican U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor, is also urging voters to reject it.
Cantor represented Virginia in Congress from 2001 until his resignation in 2014. He has contributed $250,000 to the campaign surrounding the redistricting vote.
Another opposition campaign led by a former Republican state delegate used Obama’s image alongside a July 2020 statement in which he criticized gerrymandering. The presentation suggested Obama opposed the Virginia amendment even though he supports it, adding to voter confusion. The NAACP criticized the advertisements.
Other endorsements have generally divided along party lines.
Nearly 79,000 Fairfax voters cast ballots early
As of April 9, 78,971 of Fairfax County’s 812,705 registered voters had submitted early or absentee ballots, according to the county’s Office of Elections. That represents turnout of 9.7%.
Mail voting accounted for 53% of those ballots, while early in-person voting represented 47%.
Early voting ends April 18. The special election is April 21, the final day to cast a ballot.