Virginia senate advances constitutional amendment on redistricting – JURIST

The Virginia Senate passed a constitutional amendment Friday that would allow lawmakers to pursue congressional and legislative redistricting outside the traditional post-census cycle, clearing the final legislative hurdle required to place the proposal before voters.

The amendment would modify the Virginia Constitution, which currently ties redistricting to the decennial census. Passage in both chambers during two legislative sessions is required before a proposed amendment may be submitted for a statewide referendum.

If approved by voters, the amendment would permit the General Assembly to redraw district boundaries mid-decade, altering existing limits on when redistricting may occur. Supporters argue that the change would provide flexibility to address legal or demographic issues that arise between census cycles, while critics have raised concerns about the potential for increased partisan manipulation of electoral maps.

Under Virginia law, constitutional amendments take effect only upon ratification by voters. The proposal is expected to appear on a future statewide ballot, where Virginians will determine whether to adopt the change.

The amendment’s advancement reflects broader national debates over the timing and authority of redistricting, which is traditionally conducted following the release of decennial census data. Courts have periodically ordered mid-cycle redistricting in response to constitutional or statutory violations, but state constitutions often limit when legislatures may act on their own initiative. Virginia voters will ultimately decide whether to loosen those constraints by approving the proposed constitutional change at the ballot box.