A household in Loudoun County with a lawn sign telling people to vote yes on April 21. (Isabella Pearlstein / Fourth Estate)

State to hold special election April 21

BY ISABELLA PEARLSTEIN, STAFF WRITER

Virginians will be given the opportunity to vote “yes” or “no” on a referendum that will temporarily amend Virginia’s Constitution to allow the General Assembly to redraw the state’s congressional districts. 

Early voting began March 6 and ends April 18. Election Day is Tuesday, April 21.

A referendum is a ballot measure that asks the population to vote on an issue proposed by a legislative body. In this case, the Va. General Assembly has proposed a constitutional amendment that would temporarily allow its General Assembly to redraw congressional districts.

According to the Va. Department of Elections, the ballot question reads: “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?”

Current law explains the state can redraw its congressional districts every 10 years in line with the census. The districts are drawn by the Va. Redistricting Commission, a legislative body that is made up of eight legislators and eight citizens with an equal number of Republicans and Democrats.

Va. Democrats have already proposed a map that would give Democrats a 10-1 advantage in the state’s congressional delegation.

The proposed amendment comes after multiple other states have put forth efforts into redrawing their congressional districts. Texas, Missouri, Ohio and North Carolina have redrawn their congressional districts to create more Republican seats while California has redrawn theirs to create more Democrat seats, according to multiple outlets.

Va. Democrats released a proposed map of new congressional districts in February 2026 (Virginia General Assembly)

The redistricting efforts are a preemptive move to create more seats for both political parties to fill before the upcoming midterm elections this November. Any potential blue wave in the midterms could create serious roadblocks for Trump and his administration’s goals. If Republicans maintain control of the House and the Senate, Trump could continue with his legislative agenda.

Several political ad campaigns such as Virginians for Fair Elections have referred to the referendum as a way to “level the playing field in the upcoming congressional elections and protect our democracy for our kids and grandkids.” 

Virginians may have seen former President Barack Obama appear on the TV asking for voters to vote yes. 

An opposing flyer advertisement by Justice for Democracy PAC has also appeared in voters’ mailboxes.  The ad, which is not officially affiliated with Obama,  shows the former president’s earlier quotes against gerrymandering and urges to “Protect minority representation” by voting no on the referendum. 

A Justice for Democracy PAC advertisement using Obama’s past words to oppose the referendum (Sam Douglas / Fourth Estate)

Students who are registered to vote in Fairfax County can vote at early in-person satellite locations with more opening April 11. Students registered in the City of Fairfax can vote early at Fairfax City Hall. Students who live on-campus at Fairfax can register to vote at Merten Hall by updating their registration information.

To find other early in-person voting locations, visit the Va. Department of Elections website and find your locality. For voter registration information, look at the registration page on the Va. Department of Elections site.The deadline to register to vote in Fairfax County is April 14. The registration deadline for the City of Fairfax is 10 days before any general election.