2020 Virginia Question 1

The 2020 Virginia Question 1, also known as the Virginia Redistricting Commission Amendment was a proposed amendment to the Virginia Constitution to establish a political commission in order to draw the districts of the U.S House of Representatives seats in Virginia, as well as the districts of the Virginia House of Delegates and State Senate.[3] The amendment was on the November 3 ballot.[4] According to a Christopher Newport University poll over 70% of Virginians support redistricting reform. The amendment shifted the power of redistricting from the Virginia General Assembly to a political commission composed of four members from the Virginia Senate, with two from each party; four members from the Virginia House of Delegates, with two from each party; and eight other citizens of Virginia.[5] The amendment passed with 65.69% of the vote, winning a majority of support in every county and independent city with the exception of Arlington County, Virginia.[1]

Question 1
3 November 2020
Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to establish a redistricting commission, consisting of eight members of the General Assembly and eight citizens of the Commonwealth, that is responsible for drawing the congressional and state legislative districts that will be subsequently voted on, but not changed by, the General Assembly and enacted without the Governor's involvement and to give the responsibility of drawing districts to the Supreme Court of Virginia if the redistricting commission fails to draw districts or the General Assembly fails to enact districts by certain deadlines?
Results
Choice
 Votes  %
Yes 2,770,704 65.69%
No 1,447,390 34.31%
Total votes 4,218,094 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 5,975,752 70.59%
Results by county
  Yes—80–90%
  Yes—70–80%
  Yes—60–70%
  Yes—50–60%
  No—50–60%
Source: Virginia Department of Elections[1][2]

Support

The initiative was supported by Republicans and had the support of the Virginia AARP and ACLU.[6]

Opposition

The initiative was opposed by the state Democratic Party[7] and some elected Democrats[6] on the grounds that it would give inordinate power to the judges tasked with selecting citizens for the commission and that the system would not guarantee the representation of minorities on the commission.[8][9] In August 2020, Former Virginia Democratic Chairman and candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 2021 Paul Goldman wrote a letter to the Virginia Department of Elections, arguing the wording of the question was misleading.[10] The Virginia Supreme Court rejected this challenge saying that the Department of Elections must put the question on the ballot with the wording agreed to by the legislature.[11]

Polling
Question 1
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[lower-alpha 1]		 Margin
of error		 Yes (for the amendment) No (against the amendment) Other Undecided
Roanoke College October 23–29, 2020 802 (LV) ± 3.4% 48% 26% 3%[lower-alpha 2] 4%
Christopher Newport University October 15–27, 2020 908 (LV) ± 3.4% 54% 24% – 22%
Civiqs/Daily Kos October 11–14, 2020 1,231 (LV) ± 3.1% 48% 30% – 22%
Christopher Newport University September 9–21, 2020 796 (LV) ± 3.9% 48% 28% – 24%

Results

The amendment passed with 65.59% of the vote. Only Arlington County voted against the amendment.[1]

Question 1[1]
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 2,770,704 65.69
No 1,447,390 34.31
Total votes 4,218,094 100.00

Notes
  1. Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. "Refused" with 3%

References
  1. "2020 November General". Virginia Elections. Virginia Department of Elections. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  2. "Registration Statistics". Virginia Elections. Virginia Department of Elections. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  3. "Virginia Redistricting Commission Amendment (2020)". Ballotpedia.
  4. Moomaw, Graham (March 6, 2020). "Virginia House passes redistricting reform measure, sending constitutional amendment to voters".
  5. Berti, Daniel. "Who will draw Virginia's political maps? Let the voters decide". Fauquier Times.
  6. "Virginia Question 1, Redistricting Commission Amendment (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  7. Moomaw, Graham (June 24, 2020). "Virginia Democratic Party urges voters to defeat redistricting reform amendment". Virginia Mercury. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  8. Price, Marcia (October 3, 2020). "Opinion: Vote no on Virginia's Amendment 1". Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  9. "Vote NO on 1". VA Dems Arlington. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  10. "Paul Goldman Writes VA Election Commissioner, Argues Redistricting Referendum Unconstitutional". Blue Virginia. August 3, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  11. Leonor, Mel (September 11, 2020). "Virginia Supreme Court dismisses challenge to wording of redistricting amendment". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
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