Virginia voters began casting ballots March 6 in a referendum that could dramatically reshape the state’s congressional delegation, kicking off a 45-day early voting period ahead of the official April 21 election date.
The referendum asks voters whether to suspend the state’s independent redistricting commission until 2030 and hand mapmaking authority back to the General Assembly. If passed, lawmakers would enact a proposed “10 to 1” map — giving Democrats 10 of Virginia’s 11 congressional seats. The state’s current delegation stands at six Democrats and five Republicans and is more reflective of the current voting split in the state.
Virginia voters established the independent redistricting commission through a 2020 referendum, enshrining it in the state constitution with the goal of drawing electoral maps based on population and partisan data rather than political interest.
Amending that constitution required the General Assembly to pass the measure twice — which it did in October 2025 and again in January 2026 — with a House of Delegates election occurring in between. Gov. Abigail Spanberger subsequently signed the bill, sending the question to voters.
Democrats have poured millions of dollars into the campaign, arguing the move counters Republican-led redistricting efforts in other states. Republicans have not matched that spending and contend the process has been unconstitutional at multiple points.
The two sides have each organized around competing advocacy groups — Democrats through Virginians For Fair Elections and Republicans through Virginians for Fair Maps — deploying ads, yard signs, and surrogates to turn out voters. Former President Barack Obama recorded a video urging a yes vote. Former Gov. Glenn Youngkin did the same in opposition.
A poll from the Institute for Policy and Opinion Research at Roanoke College found 62% of Virginians support keeping the independent commission. Fifty-two percent said they would vote to preserve the current system, compared to 44% who said they would vote yes on the referendum. The poll carried a margin of error of 4.43%.