Virginia voters are casting ballots in a special election ending Tuesday, April 21, 2026, on a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections if another state redraws its map outside the normal census cycle.
Virginia voters are deciding whether to approve a constitutional amendment that would temporarily let the General Assembly redraw the Commonwealth’s 11 U.S. House districts ahead of the 2026 elections.
Under materials published by the Virginia Department of Elections, the amendment is designed to allow a mid-decade congressional remap in response to other states’ off-cycle redistricting, and would then return responsibility for drawing congressional districts after the 2030 census to the Virginia Redistricting Commission for the 2031 cycle.
The referendum has become part of a broader national fight over redistricting in the run-up to the 2026 midterms, after President Donald Trump urged Republican-led states — including Texas — to pursue new maps that could improve the GOP’s chances in the U.S. House. Democrats in Virginia argue the proposed change is a countermeasure, while Republican critics call it a power grab.
Supporters say the proposed districts, approved by the Democratic-controlled legislature contingent on voter approval of the amendment, would create a map that political analysts expect to favor Democrats in most of the state’s congressional seats. Opponents argue the plan would weaken the voter-approved commission system Virginia adopted earlier this decade, even if only for the next several elections.
Public debate has played out in meetings and campaign events across Virginia, including in the Shenandoah Valley, where critics have pointed to oddly shaped proposed districts as evidence of partisan gerrymandering.
Virginia’s current congressional delegation includes six Democrats and five Republicans. If the amendment passes and a new map is implemented in time for 2026, it could significantly alter the partisan balance of the state’s House seats.
Legal and political disputes over the timing and wording of the referendum have also surrounded the vote, even as early voting proceeded ahead of Election Day.
