Virginia House Democrats advances bill to set April 21 redistricting referendum

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Democratic-controlled House of Delegates advanced a bill on Thursday that would set April 21 as the date for a redistricting referendum, allowing voters to decide whether to allow a mid-decade redrawing of Virginia's congressional districts.

This move comes just six days after the Democrat-controlled Senate passed four constitutional amendments that can now be placed before voters in a statewide referendum. On Thursday, Jan. 22, the House of Delegates voted 15-7 in favor of House Bill 1384, which would establish April 21 as the election date for congressional redistricting.

PREVIOUS: Virginia Senate passes 4 constitutional amendments for voter referendum

The four constitutional amendments were previously advanced out of the House of Delegates on Wednesday, Jan. 14, following hours of public testimony. Two days later, on Friday, Jan. 16, the Virginia Senate passed each measure.

The amendments address abortion access, redistricting, same-sex marriage and the restoration of voting and civil rights for felons, with lawmakers particularly clashing over abortion.

If voters approve the amendment, then lawmakers can redraw Virginia’s congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Del. Marcia "Cia" Price, who represents parts of Newport News, said that the proposed setting of the election date serves as "the most fair process that we can take."

However, Del. Terry Austin disagreed, claiming that the move is unfair.

"This appropriation to hold a special election is a reaction, and I regret that, but I can't go on with this appropriation because I understand the consequences associated, and their fairly detrimental to the citizens of the Commonwealth and fair representation," Terry said during the House committee meeting on Thursday.

"If we were to not act or to at least give the voters an opportunity to act, then we would be allowing for Texas, Florida and North Carolina to diminish the power of our Virginians' vote," Price said. "So I strongly believe one person -- one vote -- and that is not where we are, and that is a change from when the voters voted for the redistricting commission."

Price emphasized that they are not abolishing the redistricting commission, but rather stepping in under what she calls an "interim action" before the committee's work in 2031.

PREVIOUS: Democrats in the Virginia Senate approve redistricting amendment

Currently, Virginia’s congressional maps are drawn through a bipartisan process every 10 years after a new census is completed.

However, Virginia Democrats argue that allowing lawmakers to replace that process mid-decade with a map of their own is necessary because several Republican-led states, like California and Texas, have redrawn their maps to their benefit to hurt Democrats in the 2026 midterm elections.