VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The meeting hosted by the Virginia Beach chapter of the NAACP on Monday night not only sought to answer questions around the 10-1 voting system, but also asked that attendees to show up Tuesday night at the Virginia Beach City Council meeting and advocate to protect it.
The system has been a topic of contention in recent months, and Monday night one local group hosted a town hall ahead of Tuesday's public hearing.
Organization leaders and elected officials present at the town hall laid out why the system needs to be written into the city charter.
"When you have full representation, you are able to elect the person that you feel will best represent you," Chapter Vice President Georgia Allen said.
The system is used to elect officials in the city and was adopted in 2022. It splits the city into 10 districts, allowing voters to select a single representative depending on their residence and vote on one at-large seat, that being the mayor.
Opponents of the system have filed lawsuits alleging the 10-1 system goes against the city's charter. Failed attempts to codify the system in the city's charter have happened as recently as this year. The most recent attempt to change the city charter passed both the House of Delegates and Virginia Senate but was vetoed by Governor Glenn Youngkin.
Supporters at Monday's town hall said 10-1 creates an even playing field for all candidates.
"It's truly a one person, one vote system, which allows anybody to run for council," Allen said.
The local chapter is encouraging folks to come out Tuesday night and voice their support at the city council meeting. After the hearing, the City Council will ultimately decide what they will do about it at a later date.