By Heather Michon
Editor
In-person early voting is now underway in Virginia’s high-stakes redistricting referendum ahead of the April 21 statewide vote.
Early voting began March 6 and will continue through April 18 across Virginia.
The referendum asks voters whether the state constitution should be amended to allow lawmakers to redraw the state’s congressional districts before the next census.
This stems from a contentious effort in Richmond to redraw Virginia’s congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Democratic lawmakers have argued that new district lines are necessary to counter redistricting efforts by Republican-controlled states that could shift the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Under the proposal, Virginia’s congressional map could shift from its current 6-5 partisan split to as many as 10 Democratic seats and one Republican seat.
Republicans and some independent observers have sharply criticized the proposal, arguing that mid-decade redistricting undermines the state’s existing process and could amount to a partisan gerrymander.
If approved by voters, the constitutional amendment would temporarily allow Virginia to redraw congressional districts ahead of the upcoming 2026 election cycle.
The proposal has already survived multiple legal challenges, allowing the referendum to move forward while the courts continue to review aspects of the case.
For Fluvanna County residents, the outcome could have a direct impact on where the county falls on Virginia’s congressional map.
Earlier proposals tied to the referendum have shown Fluvanna potentially shifting out of the long-standing Fifth Congressional District and into a newly configured district anchored by several university cities in western Virginia.
Early in-person voting is available at the Registrar’s Office on Turkeysag Trail in Palmyra. Registered voters can visit the office during regular business hours to cast a ballot ahead of Election Day.
Election officials encourage voters to bring an acceptable form of identification when they arrive to vote, though voters without ID can still complete an ID confirmation statement or cast a provisional ballot.
Early in-person voting in Fluvanna will continue through Friday, April 18. Election Day for the referendum is Tuesday, April 21, when voters will cast ballots at their regular precinct polling places from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Residents can also request absentee ballots by mail through the Virginia Department of Elections or contact the Fluvanna County Registrar’s Office at (434) 589-3593 for additional information about voting options and hours.
