Voters have final say today on proposed redistricting amendment

Rob Wittman's congressional district had the highest early voter turnout in the state, VPAP says.

Apr 21, 2026

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It’s April 21, voting day on the constitutional amendment to overturn the bipartisan process voters approved just six years ago. Also today, regional library’s new natural playground is not your typical playground. Governor delays union bargaining provision that could raise homeowner tax rates as much as 24 cents.

Virginians who didn’t vote early head to the polls today to determine the future of a Congressional redistricting referendum, which would overturn the state’s current electoral map in favor of one leaning heavily Democratic.

Residents of the First Congressional District represented by Rob Wittman -- who would be placed in a Democratic leaning district if the referendum passes -- showed the largest turnout, with 172,678 votes cast by the time early voting ended on Saturday.

The nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project said 37% of James City County’s registered voters turned out to vote, the second largest turnout in the state. Mathews county had the highest turnout, at 43.3%.

Both counties are currently represented by Wittman, as is York County, which had the eighth largest turnout at 32.4%.

Williamsburg was in 26^th place, with 26.6% early voting turnout.

Under the map proposed by the Democrats, the state’s congressional map would be redrawn from one that is 6-5 Democratic/Republican to one that leans 10/1 Democratic.

Virginians chose a nonpartisan approach to drawing congressional maps in a 2020 referendum, in which 66% voted for a nonpartisan commission composed equally of members from both parties.

When the commission deadlocked on a map a year later, the Virginia Supreme Court automatically assumed responsibility under the new process. It appointed two independent “special masters” – one aligned with each party – who drafted the current map.

Democrats, who framed the referendum question to say a yes vote was a vote for fairness, said their decision to overturn this system was driven by Republican President Donald Trump’s push for Republicans to gerrymander their districts in key states to ensure Republicans retain control of Congress.

James City County would be split between two congressional districts under the proposed Democratic map, according to VPAP. Most of the county would fall into District 4, reaching from the Richmond southwest to Danville.

York County and part of James City would fall into a proposed District 8, stretching north to Alexandria.

Both of the districts lean strongly Democratic.