Virginia Beach 10-1 Voting System
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Why do AAUW Virginia Beach Branch and the
League of Women Voters South Hampton Roads
Support 'Yes for Virginia Beach' ?
- We have used the 10-1 voting system for the last two local elections, in 2022 and 2024.
- The 10-1 system assures that all Virginia Beach communities have a representative on the Virginia Beach City Council. The 10-1 system ensures fair, equal, accountable representation.
- 81% of Virginia Beach residents preferred the 10-1 system in a comprehensive survey and poll conducted by the University of Virginia.
- The all at-large voting system in effect (prior to the10-1 system) was a violation of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Map of Existing 10 Virginia Beach Districts, Used in the last two elections (2022 and 2024)
10-1 means each of the 10 districts votes for a representative (10) for their area and for the mayor (1)
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Dig Deeper - 10-1 Background:
Vote YES -- Virginia Beach 10-1 Referendum
This November, Virginia Beach voters will have an advisory referendum question on their ballot:
- "Should the method of city council elections set forth in the Virginia Beach City Charter be changed from a modified 7-3-1 system to a 10-1 system? "
A “yes” vote means that you support the 10-1 system we are currently using.1
The Voting Rights Act of 1965
Under 10-1, “Three of the 10 districts are considered minority “opportunity” districts in which combined racial minorities (Black, Hispanic and Asian) make up more than 50% of the district’s population, and the composition of the district provides the opportunity for minority voters to elect candidates of their choice.”2 At-large voting never resulted in proportional representation of the Virginia Beach population, so increasing at-large seats from 1 to 4 is likely to again decrease minority voters’ ability to elect candidates of their choice. That’s why the court case has been reopened.3
Some Votes Count More than Others
- “State legislative districts as well as local districts are required to be ‘substantially’ equal in population.”4 “With a population of 450,000 residents, [Virginia Beach,] is the largest city in Virginia.”5 Under the 10-1 system we are now using, the Mayor represents all 450,000 residents and each Council member represents about 45,000 residents. Under 10-1, you now vote for 2 people on City Council: the Mayor and your own district representative. The 4-year terms are staggered - so in 2026 Districts 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10 will vote, and in 2028 council members from Districts 1, 3, 5, 7, and the Mayor will be elected.
- In the past, all City Council and School Board members were elected at-large by all Virginia Beach voters, even though 7 of the 11 members were required to live in separate districts. That changed when a 2021 state law said that if the person elected had to live in a district, so did the voters that elected that person. Meanwhile, the voting rights lawsuit challenged the old election system and, “In March 2021, a federal court ruled that the all at-large election system in the City Charter (prior to the 2021 general law change) diluted the voting power of a coalition of minority voters in violation of federal law.”6 As a result, the 2022 and 2024 elections used 10 districts with only the Mayor elected at-large.
- A return to the old 7-3-1 system (as modified by state law) would mean that the Mayor and 3 council members would be responsible to 450,000 residents. Each of the other 7 Council members would represent about 64,000 residents. For comparison, your state Senator represents 215,785 people and the state Delegate you will elect this November represents 86,314 constituents.7 Under a 7-3-1 system you would vote for 5 of the 11 people on City Council: the Mayor, 3 other members who would represent the whole city, and 1 district representative. For 4 of those 5 you would be one voice in 450,000 and for your district representative, your voice would only have 2/3 the impact it has now.
Follow the Money
The larger the population represented, the more costly the election campaign. Larger districts increase the influence of money in local politics. Candidates without personal wealth could be eliminated or else become beholden to wealthy donors.
- In 2024, total amounts spent were District 1 $139,550, District 3 $327,915 (3 candidates), District 5 $541,769, District 7 $103,212, District 8 $316,899 (4 candidates) Mayor $533,378 (5 candidates).8
The BIG MONEY Committee Against the Existing 10-1 Voting System
A Referendum Committee named Every Vote Counts Virginia Beach is encouraging a "No" vote on the referendum. It has raised over $500,000 since June 9th to encourage votes against the existing 10-1 system, and promotes a 7-3-1 hybrid system for Virginia Beach - 7 district representatives, 3 at-large (representing all districts) and 1 mayor.9
- A return to the 7-3-1 system would require mid-decade redistricting based on population estimates instead of a recent census. New maps would sort neighborhoods differently into larger districts. It would take two election cycles – 4 years – to fully change Council representation.
Source: Virginia Public Access Project, Every Vote Counts VB
Most of the large donations to Every Vote Counts VB come from the real estate/construction sector.
Source: Virginia Public Access Project, Every Vote Counts VB
- Donors living in Zip Code 23451 gave over $250,000 to Every Vote Counts VB to overturn the existing 10-1 voting system.
Source: Virginia Public Access Project, Every Vote Counts VB
The Groups Supporting the Current 10-1 Election System - Vote YES
- Yes for VB is a newly formed bipartisan Referendum Committee to promote the 10-1 system. It began reporting its funding on September 15th. 10 The majority of donors gave under $100.
Source: Virginia Public Access Project, Yes for Virginia Beach
- Vote Yes on 10-1 is another new nonpartisan Referendum Commitee formed to promote the 10-1 system. Currently they have received under $18,000 in small and in-kind donations.
Source: Virginia Public Access Project, Vote Yes on 10-1 Committee
The donations to the "Vote Yes" groups are smaller and most are from individual voters.
Source: Virginia Public Access Project, Yes On 10-1
OTHER RESOURCES
- City of Virginia Beach Referendum webpage
- Virginia Public Action Project - unbiased political and campaign finance information for Virginia
- Look Up Your Virginia Beach Voting District
Documentation
1. https://communications.virginiabeach.gov/hot-topics/referendum-2025
2. https://communications.virginiabeach.gov/hot-topics/local-election-districts
4, https://lawyerscommittee.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Redistricting-Principles.pdf
5. https://police.virginiabeach.gov/community/about-virginia-beach
6. https://communications.virginiabeach.gov/hot-topics/referendum-2025
7. https://www.virginiaredistricting.org/
8. https://www.vpap.org/localities/virginia-beach-city-va/elections/
9. https://cfreports.elections.virginia.gov/Committee/Index/a6a7c35c-9e20-42cf-9c47-84340102783f