April 1, 2026 Editor, The News-Gazette: Is a yes vote on the map redistricting referendum a vote for fairness? Absolutely not! Why? Because it would be unfair for politicians from either political party in Virginia to control 91% of its seats in Congress today when the state went 51% for Democrats and 46% for Republicans only two years ago.
Rigging congressional maps to arrange for a political monopoly wouldn’t just be unfair, it would ignore the will of an overwhelming majority of Virginians (65%) who approved a constitutional amendment in 2020 requiring fair maps. Such a blatant power grab would likely be ruled unconstitutional and overturned in the courts.
We don’t even need to address the transparently deceptive wording of the referendum designed to fool our friends and neighbors to think voting yes is a vote for fairness. Don’t let them be fooled!
So, if you don’t see anything fair about either party having no obstacles to pursuing their “radical” agenda when separated currently by such a slim margin, and you would be more than a little uncomfortable with our precious Virginia being run like New York or California, and you respect the wisdom on this matter recently by 65% of Virginia citizens and the editor of this newspaper, there is only one vote that makes sense. A no vote is a vote for fairness! JOHN N. TUCKER Kerrs Creek
