Decision Virginia: What’s on your ballot on April 21?

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – Voters will head to the polls on April 21 to decide if the state should redraw congressional districts ahead of the midterms.

Virginia’s congressional map contains 11 districts. Democrats control six districts while Republicans hold five.

If approved, the new map would likely give Democrats a 10-1 advantage heading into the fall.

The Virginia Department of Elections states the ballot will ask a yes-or-no question proposing the amendment to the state’s constitution:

“Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional districts to restore fairness in the upcoming elections, while ensuring Virginia’s standard redistricting process resumes for all future redistricting after the 2030 census?

Virginia’s current law, which is detailed by the Department of Elections:

Present Law Virginia’s eleven congressional districts are drawn once every ten years by the Virginia Redistricting Commission, a legislative body made up of eight legislators and eight citizens, with an equal number of Republicans and Democrats. Virginia’s congressional districts were last redrawn in 2021 and will next be redrawn in 2031.

Proposed law:

The proposed amendment would give the General Assembly the authority to redraw one or more of Virginia’s congressional districts before 2031 in limited circumstances. In the event that another state redraws its own congressional districts before 2031, without being ordered by a court to do so, the General Assembly would then be able to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts.

The General Assembly’s power to do so would continue until October 31, 2030, and the Virginia Redistricting Commission would reassume the responsibility of drawing the congressional districts in 2031.

If “Yes” votes win:

A “yes” vote would allow the General Assembly to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts, since other states have done so, in addition to giving effect to the proposed district map in time for the 2026 Congressional elections, and return the responsibility of drawing the congressional districts in 2031 to the Virginia Redistricting Commission.

If “No” votes win:

A “no” vote would leave the authority to draw congressional districts with the Virginia Redistricting Commission once a decade and Virginia’s current districts would remain in place.

Where to vote

Early voting for the special election ends Saturday, April 18. Then your final chance to vote is on Election Day, April 21.

Registered voters can look up their polling place on the Citizen Portal of the Department of Election’s website.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

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