Virginia Voters Approve New Congressional Map

UPDATE 6:46 PM – In a close decision, Virginia voters have approved a new congressional map, which may enhance the Democrats’ prospects in the upcoming 2026 elections.

On Tuesday, the contentious redistricting measure passed with a narrow 51%-49% margin.

This new map could potentially lead to the elimination of four out of five Republican-held congressional seats in the midterm elections.

3:33 PM – Today, Virginians participated in a vote regarding a proposed constitutional amendment. If successful, it would enable Democrat lawmakers to redraw district maps more favorably for their party.

Should the amendment pass, it would initiate a unique “mid-decade” redistricting. The current maps, established by a bipartisan commission in 2021, currently produce a 6-5 split favoring Democrats. The suggested new maps have the potential to significantly alter that division.

This amendment aims to bypass the bipartisan Virginia Redistricting Commission, which consists of an equal number of legislators and citizens from both major parties, according to the Virginia Department of Elections.

Even though congressional maps aren’t scheduled for a redraw until 2031, this legislation would permit legislators to adjust district lines earlier if another state does the same without court orders.

“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?” reads the ballot measure.

This vote occurs amid a nationwide redistricting struggle expected to influence the forthcoming midterm elections. Many states have faced scrutiny for maps that seem to favor one political party over another.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) expressed support for the Virginia measure in a press conference, advocating for the approval of the amendment to ensure a balanced playing field.

“We’re urging everyone to vote yes to counter the MAGA power grab. Virginia voters have a chance to secure a fair national congressional map,” Jeffries stated.

If the measure passes, it would allow Virginia Democrats to reshape districts, likely turning 10 out of 11 districts blue.

“This referendum is a blatant partisan power grab that’s unprecedented,” former President Donald Trump remarked during a Monday night rally. He further noted that if it passes, Virginia Democrats could wipe out four out of five congressional seats.

Trump reiterated his call for voters to go to the polls in a Truth Social post.

“VIRGINIA, VOTE ‘NO’ TO SAVE YOUR COUNTRY!”

The ballot measure has faced various legal challenges, but the Supreme Court of Virginia has permitted the special election to continue, with final judgments on the underlying issues pending after the votes are counted.

Tonight’s Timeline – Tuesday, April 21st (EDT)

• 7:00 p.m: Polls close. Anyone in line at this time can still vote.

• 7:10 p.m. – 8:00 p.m: Initial results typically start to surface. In the 2025 gubernatorial election, significant data was reported within 10 minutes of polls closing.

• 8:00 p.m. – Midnight: Most same-day precinct votes will be tallied.

Virginia counties differ on when they disclose early voting information. Some will report it first, while others may combine it with precinct totals later in the evening.

What to Expect

Approximately 1.4 million Virginians voted either early or by mail, suggesting the early results could provide a strong indication of the final outcome.

In past major Virginia elections, over 99% of the vote was counted by 2:00 a.m.

However, if the results are extremely close, we may not have a definitive answer by the end of the night since same-day provisional ballots must be reviewed by local boards in the days following.

Recount Rules

If the outcome is very close, the final count could take additional time.

• 1% margin: A group of 50 or more voters can request and fund a recount.

• 0.5% margin: The state will cover the cost of the recount.

Live updates can be monitored on the Virginia Department of Elections website or through the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP).