March 4, 2026 Editor, The News-Gazette: Virginia voters should approach the April 21 referendum with caution. The question before us is not simply about congressional lines. It is about whether the Virginia Constitution should be used as a short-term political tool whenever the balance of power is at stake.
Constitutions are meant to provide stability and guardrails, not serve as quick fixes for immediate political advantage. This proposal would authorize a temporary redistricting outside Virginia’s existing constitutional process, only to be replaced again after the 2030 census. That kind of short-term amendment undermines the very purpose of a constitution: durable rules that both parties respect over time.
The legal footing of the proposal is also uncertain. Ongoing court challenges reflect serious questions about whether a middecade congressional rewrite, enacted for a single election cycle, is consistent with Virginia law and Constitution as well as principles of stability and fair process. Voters should be wary of writing contested policy experiments into the commonwealth’s foundational document.
There are also real costs. Taxpayers must fund a standalone statewide election for this single purpose. If the amendment passes, state and local officials will bear additional administrative expenses, and the process will have to be repeated after 2030. Even if it fails, the election itself still carries a multi-milliondollar price tag.
For the Shenandoah Valley, the proposal is especially troubling. The new districts divide communities that have shared economic, transportation, and cultural interests for generations, weakening the Valley’s longterm voice in Congress.
Finally, sprawling, non-compact districts shift hidden costs onto citizens. Rural and lowerincome residents, who are most likely to need help with federal benefits, veterans’ services, or disaster assistance, may face longer drives and greater expense to reach constituent service offices.
Virginia deserves stable rules, fiscal responsibility, and representation built for communities — not short-term political fixes. On April 21, voters should vote No. BILL RUSSELL Kerrs Creek District
