Northern Virginia Early Voting — Redistricting Referendum

Northern Virginia voters can cast ballots early ahead of Virginia’s April 21 redistricting referendum, with some counties adding satellite sites and longer evening or Saturday hours. (elections.virginia.gov) Virginia’s Department of Elections says early in-person voting for the statewide constitutional amendment began March 6 and runs through Saturday, April 18. The deadline to request a mailed absentee ballot was April 10, and the deadline to register and vote a regular ballot is April 14. (elections.virginia.gov) The ballot asks whether the Virginia Constitution should be amended to let the General Assembly temporarily redraw congressional districts before 2031 if another state redraws its own map before then. A yes vote would also put a map already approved by lawmakers in place for the 2026 congressional elections. (elections.virginia.gov) Under current law, Virginia’s 11 U.S. House districts were drawn in 2021 and are supposed to stay in place until 2031 under the Virginia Redistricting Commission process. The proposed amendment would shift that power to the legislature until Oct. 31, 2030, then return it to the commission in 2031. (elections.virginia.gov) That makes the vote more than a scheduling question. The Associated Press reported the measure would give the Democratic-controlled legislature temporary power to redraw the state’s congressional districts, while WTOP reported the new map could affect the balance of power in the U.S. House. (apnews.com) (wtop.com) The campaigns have framed the same proposal in sharply different terms. Democrats and allied groups say the amendment would answer out-of-state map changes, while Republicans have argued it opens the door to a mid-decade gerrymander. (wtop.com) (dcnewsnow.com) In Arlington, voters can use Courthouse Plaza from March 6 through April 17 on weekdays, plus April 11 and April 18 on Saturdays, and two satellite sites — Walter Reed Community Center and Madison Community Center — on the April 11 and April 18 Saturdays and on April 14 and April 16 evenings. Arlington says all voters may use any of its early-voting locations. (vote.arlingtonva.gov) In Fairfax County, election officials say all registered county residents are eligible to vote in the April 21 special election on the proposed constitutional amendment. In Prince William County, the elections office says the same ballot question will be the county’s only statewide issue on Election Day. (fairfaxcounty.gov) (pwcvotes.org) Loudoun County told voters early voting for the special election began March 6, and Alexandria’s elections office said the referendum appears alongside the city’s separate City Council special election on April 21. That means Northern Virginia voters should check their own locality’s schedule and ballot before heading out. (loudoun.gov) (alexandriava.gov) For voters who wait until Election Day, polls statewide will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by April 21 and received by noon on Friday, April 24. (nbcwashington.com) (elections.virginia.gov)