On Tuesday, voters in Virginia will head to the polls for a high-stakes referendum that will decide whether to redraw the state’s congressional map.
Under the proposal put forward by Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger and the state’s Democratic trifecta, the map would be shifted to drastically favor Democrats. While Republicans currently hold five of the state’s 11 House seats, the redrawn map could bring about a 10–1 Democratic House delegation.
The proposal to amend Virginia’s state Constitution would remain in effect until 2030, when districting would return to an independent process.
The map laid out in the special election referendum, if accepted and approved by state courts, would go into effect in November.
Early voting in the referendum has already closed.
Supporters of the plan, including Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), have characterized it as a necessary response to a mid-decade redistricting battle triggered by Republicans. Critics say that it would disenfranchise the state’s Republican voters.
Under the redrawn map, the singular Republican district would still represent a huge chunk of the sparser-populated western portion of the state, a region of Appalachia where Republicans dominate.
In the eastern part of the state, however, previously Republican districts around the outskirts of Richmond, along the border with North Carolina, and along the eastern coasts would likely become Democrat-controlled seats.