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Virginia redistricting vote: What to know about the special election
Virginia voters head to the polls Tuesday to decide whether lawmakers should be allowed to temporarily redraw the state’s congressional map ahead of the midterms, a proposal that could shift the balance of the state’s House delegation.
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. - Virginia voters head to the polls Tuesday to decide whether lawmakers should be allowed to temporarily redraw the state’s congressional map ahead of the midterms, a proposal that could shift the balance of the state’s House delegation.
What we know:
The measure has drawn sharp debate. Supporters say the temporary redistricting aligns with steps taken in other states, while opponents argue it amounts to a political power grab.
Early voting ended Sunday, and turnout on Election Day is expected to play a major role in determining the outcome.
Political analysts caution that even favorable maps do not guarantee results, noting that voter turnout and unpredictable races could make the difference.
Polling shows a slight edge for supporters of the measure, but it’s not enough to clearly project the outcome. And even if voters approve it, the proposal still faces a legal challenge before the Virginia Supreme Court.
Election officials say polls will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., with results expected later that night.
April 21, 2026 | Virginia Redistricting Vote Special Election
When to Vote
Polling places are open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. Anyone in line at 7:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
Where to Vote
Voters may look up their polling place or they may contact their General Registrar for more information.
How to Vote
When voting in-person, you will be asked to provide an acceptable form of identification at the polls.
Special Election Details
Proposed Constitutional Amendment - Statewide (Enabling Legislation)
Alexandria City Council Special Election (Writ)
Proposed Amendment for April 2026 Special Election
Explanation for Proposed Constitutional Amendment to Be Voted On at the April 21, 2026, Special Election
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
BALLOT QUESTION
Question: 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?
EXPLANATION FOR VOTERS
April 21, 2026 Proposed Constitutional Amendment Explanation
2026 Constitutional Amendment Brochure (Spanish) (Vietnamese) (Korean)
2026 Constitutional Amendment Poster (Spanish) (Vietnamese) (Korean)
Present Law
Virginia's eleven congressional districts are drawn once every ten years by the Virginia Redistricting Commission, a legislative body made up of eight legislators and eight citizens, with an equal number of Republicans and Democrats. Virginia's congressional districts were last redrawn in 2021 and will next be redrawn in 2031.
Proposed Law
The proposed amendment would give the General Assembly the authority to redraw one or more of Virginia's congressional districts before 2031 in limited circumstances. In the event that another state redraws its own congressional districts before 2031, without being ordered by a court to do so, the General Assembly would then be able to redraw Virginia's congressional districts. The General Assembly's power to do so would continue until October 31, 2030, and the Virginia Redistricting Commission would reassume the responsibility of drawing the congressional districts in 2031.
The proposed district map has been approved by the General Assembly and would take effect only if the constitutional amendment is approved by the voters.
A "yes" vote would allow the General Assembly to redraw Virginia's congressional districts, since other states have done so, in addition to giving effect to the proposed district map in time for the 2026 Congressional elections, and return the responsibility of drawing the congressional districts in 2031 to the Virginia Redistricting Commission.
A "no" vote would leave the authority to draw congressional districts with the Virginia Redistricting Commission once a decade and Virginia's current districts would remain in place.
FULL TEXT OF AMENDMENT
[Proposed new language is underlined. Deleted old language is stricken.]
ARTICLE II
FRANCHISE AND OFFICERS
Section 6. Apportionment.
Members of the House of Representatives of the United States and members of the Senate and of the House of Delegates of the General Assembly shall be elected from electoral districts established pursuant to this section and Section 6-A of this Constitution. Every electoral district shall be composed of contiguous and compact territory and shall be so constituted as to give, as nearly as is practicable, representation in proportion to the population of the district. Every electoral district shall be drawn in accordance with the requirements of federal and state laws that address racial and ethnic fairness, including the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, and judicial decisions interpreting such laws. Districts shall provide, where practicable, opportunities for racial and ethnic communities to elect candidates of their choice.
The Commonwealth shall be reapportioned into electoral districts in accordance with this section and Section 6-A in the year 2021 and every ten years thereafter, except that the General Assembly shall be authorized to modify one or more congressional districts at any point following the adoption of a decennial reapportionment law, but prior to the next decennial census, in the event that any State of the United States of America conducts a redistricting of such state's congressional districts at any point following that state's adoption of a decennial reapportionment law for any purpose other than (i) the completion of the state's decennial redistricting in response to a federal census and reapportionment mandated by the Constitution of the United States and established in federal law or (ii) as ordered by any state or federal court to remedy an unlawful or unconstitutional district map.
Any such decennial reapportionment law, or reapportionment law modifying one or more congressional districts, shall take effect immediately and not be subject to the limitations contained in Article IV, Section 13, of this Constitution.
The districts delineated in the decennial any reapportionment law shall be implemented for the November general election for the United States House of Representatives, Senate, or House of Delegates, respectively, that is held immediately prior to the expiration of the term being served in the year that the reapportionment law is required to be enacted. A member in office at the time that a decennial redistricting law is enacted shall complete his term of office and shall continue to represent the district from which he was elected for the duration of such term of office so long as he does not move his residence from the district from which he was elected. Any vacancy occurring during such term shall be filled from the same district that elected the member whose vacancy is being filled.
SCHEDULE
Section 6. Application and duration of certain redistricting amendments.
The authorization in Article II, Section 6 authorizing the General Assembly to modify one or more congressional districts at any point following adoption of a decennial reapportionment law in the event that any State of the United States of America conducts a redistricting of such state's congressional districts at any point following that state's adoption of a decennial reapportionment law shall be limited to making such modifications between January 1, 2025, and October 31, 2030, in response to actions taken by another state between January 1, 2025, and October 31, 2030.
Approved by House and Senate Privileges and Elections Committees on February 20, 2026.
April 21, 2026 Special Election Candidate List
April 21, 2026 Special Election Constitutional Amendment Referendum
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Virginia Department of Elections.