Virginia Redistricting Referendum
April 21, 2026
What is on the ballot?
Virginia voters will decide whether to adopt a new set of congressional district maps in place of the 119th Congress boundaries. The proposed maps were passed by the General Assembly and signed by Governor Spanberger in February 2026, and now go to voters for final approval. A yes vote adopts the new, fairer maps for the 2026 elections.
Why is this happening?
The current congressional maps fragment real communities — especially in Northern and Central Virginia — splitting cities, counties, and regional corridors across multiple districts to protect incumbents. The proposed maps fix that. They keep communities of interest together and make several long-safe districts genuinely competitive, giving Virginians meaningful choices instead of predetermined outcomes.
Checks and balances only work when maps are drawn for people, not politicians. As other states push more extreme gerrymanders, Virginia has a chance to stand up for fair representation — and this referendum is how we do it.
Key dates
- March 6, 2026: Early voting opens at local registrar offices.
- April 11, 2026: Deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail.
- April 19, 2026: Last day of early in-person voting.
- April 21, 2026: Referendum Election Day (polls 6am–7pm).
How do the new maps compare to the old ones?
The largest changes are in the 7th District, which is almost entirely rewritten, and in the 1st, 5th, and 6th, which all become significantly more competitive. Use our district checker to see whether your own district changes, or browse the full list on our all districts page.
Where do I vote?
Your polling place doesn't change for this referendum — it's the same location you use for other Virginia elections. You can look yours up at elections.virginia.gov.
What happens if it passes?
If the referendum passes, the proposed maps will take effect immediately for the November 2026 congressional elections. Every U.S. House race in Virginia will be run on the new district lines, and several current incumbents will find themselves in very different districts than the ones they currently represent.
What happens if it fails?
If voters reject the referendum, Virginia will continue using the 119th Congress map for the 2026 election, and the state's next scheduled redistricting would happen after the 2030 census.