Virginia

Redistricting Websites

Reform initiatives in Virginia

District Statistics Reports

NCSL Profile

1. Constitutional Citations

 
a) Congressional Redistricting:
Article II. § 6
b) Legislative Redistricting:
Article II, § 6

2. Statutory or Other Citations 

 
a) Description of Current Congressional Districts:
Va. Code § 24.2-302.1
b) Description of Current Legislative Districts:
Senate: Va. Code § 24.2-303.1
House: Va. Code §§ 24.2-304.01, 24.2-304.02
c) Districting Principles or Procedure:
Va. Code §§ 24.2-305, 24.2-311

3. Congressional Districts

 
a) Present Number:
11
b) Prospective Number after 2010 Census:
11

4. State Legislative Districts

 
a) Senate
 
Number of Districts:
40
Number of Multimember Districts:
0
Largest Number of Seats in a District:
1
b) House
 
Number of Districts:
100
Number of Multimember Districts:
0
Largest Number of Seats in a District:
1
c) House Districts Nested within Senate Districts?
No

5. Redistricting Requirements

 
a) Initial Responsibility for Drawing Congressional Districts
Legislature
b) Initial Responsibility for Drawing Legislative Districts:
Legislature
c) Legislative Committee Responsible for Redistricting:
Senate: Committee on Privileges and Elections - 15 members.
House: Committee on Privileges and Elections - 22 members.
Joint Reapportionment Committee - eight members: three Senate and five House.
d) Use Apportionment Board or Commission?
No
e) Gubernatorial Veto Power over Congressional Plan?
Yes
f) Gubernatorial Veto Power over Legislative Plan?
Yes

6. Redistricting Deadlines

 
a) Congressional Deadline:
2011
Basis for Deadline:
Constitution
Effect of Failure to Meet Deadline:
Constitution is silent.
b) Legislative Deadline:
2011 House and Senate elections are scheduled for November 2011.
Basis for Deadline:
Constitution
Effect of Failure to Meet Deadline:
Constitution is silent.

7. Voting Rights Act Information for the 2000s

 
Preclearance Required?
Yes
Justice Department Objection to Plans?
No

8. State Contacts

Mary Spain
Senior Attorney
Division of Legislative Services
910 Capitol Street, 2nd Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
804/786-3591
804/371-0169 Fax
mspain@leg.state.va.us
Robert J. Austin
Section Manager of Special Projects
Division of Legislative Services
910 Capitol Street, 2nd Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
804/786-3591
804/371-0169 Fax
jaustin@leg.state.va.us