Virginia Redistricting Amendment

How the 2026 Virginia Redistricting Amendment Works

On April 21, 2026, Virginia voters will decide on a constitutional amendment that would temporarily give the General Assembly the power to redraw Virginia’s 11 congressional districts before the next census.

What the Amendment Would Do

If approved, the amendment would allow the Virginia General Assembly to override the current map drawn by the independent Redistricting Commission and adopt a new congressional map for the 2026 and 2028 elections. After the 2030 census, redistricting authority would return to the normal independent commission process.

Expected Impact on Congressional Seats

• If YES wins: The new map is projected to create approximately 10 Democratic-leaning districts and 1 Republican-leaning district.
• If NO wins: The current map remains in place, expected to produce roughly 6 Democratic-leaning and 5 Republican-leaning districts.

Voting Process

Voters will cast a simple Yes or No vote on the amendment. A simple majority (more than 50%) of the votes cast is required for the amendment to pass. This is a statewide vote — every Virginia voter can participate.

What Happens After the Election?

If the amendment passes, the General Assembly will have the authority to draw and approve a new congressional map. If it fails, the existing map (drawn by the bipartisan Redistricting Commission) will remain in effect through the decade.

This is a one-time, temporary change to the redistricting process. It only affects congressional districts — not state legislative districts.