Adams proposes referendum on voting district

A Richmond legislator is promoting a bill that would create a statewide voter referendum that questions how Virginia voter districts should be drawn.

The bill, HB 1381, was proposed by Del. Dawn M. Adams, D-68. It would require that a referendum, which asks whether Virginia voter districts should be drawn by an independent redistricting committee, be held during the November 2018 general election.

“The purpose of the referendum is to put the question to the people,” said Adams, whose district also includes a slice of Henrico County. “Statewide, we would ask all Virginians if they believe there should be an independent commission to redraw the districts.Under Article II of the state Constitution, voter districts for the U.S. House of Representatives, the state Senate, and the House of Delegates are established by the General Assembly. This process, known as redistricting, takes place every 10 years following the completion of the U.S. Census.

The bill states that the results of the referendum would be advisory only, meaning that the state would not be required to take any action following the referendum.

“Essentially, the referendum will not dictate the outcome,” Adams said. “It will express the will of the people. The legislature will have to vote in order to make a change.”

Brian R. Cannon, who is the executive director of OneVirginia2021, a Richmond-based nonprofit that advocates for fair redistricting in the state, said that his organization not only supports HB 1381, but also helped to write the legislation.

“This is a fundamental change to one of the key components on how we run our government,” Cannon said. “Legislators would be surprised to find out how strongly this would pass in their districts.”

Cannon said that although the results of the referendum would be non-binding, legislators should still take action based on the results.

“Virginians should have a say in this process, and legislators should listen closely to what Virginians want,” Cannon said. “No one elects folks for them to gerrymander.”

The bill was referred to subcommittee No. 1 on the House Committee on Privileges and Elections on Jan. 22.