RICHMOND, Va. — How elections are handled in Virginia Beach remains a hot topic in Richmond as the Virginia NAACP urges the House of Delegates to pass legislation changing the city charter to reflect the new voting system.
The City of Virginia Beach began using a 10-1 voting system in November 2022. A 10-1 system means residents can only vote for the candidates in their district.
The city has historically used an at-large system, meaning residents could vote for every candidate city-wide.
A new bill in the General Assembly would allow Virginia Beach to change the city’s charter to reflect the election change.
The bill comes as the city faces a lawsuit over the change to its election process. That lawsuit accuses city leaders of acting unlawfully because the city’s charter still supports an at-large voting system.
Virginia NAACP Political Action Chair Gaylene Kanoyton said the lawsuit shouldn’t hold up the bill in the House.
“We support voting. We support fair voting," Kanoyton said. “These lawsuits basically, really is a moot point. If you let this go, then you’re going to have other lawsuits on other bills? If women’s reproductive rights come up, you’re going to have a lawsuit on that one? You’re going to hold it up? It opens up a can of worms, Pandora’s Box."
A former lawsuit alleged the city's all-at-large system disadvantaged minorities. In 2020, a federal judge sided with that argument, calling the at-large system illegal, and ordering the use of a 10-1 election system.
A city-wide survey in Virginia Beach found voters there “overwhelmingly” prefer the 10-1 voting system by 81 percent. Kanoyton said delegates should follow the will of the people.
“The will of the people in Virginia Beach want to have this 10-1 voting system. The legislators work for the people. They elected them and their voices should be heard," Kanoyton said. “If your city council and your mayor and the majority of your citizens support this then it is the will of the people and legislators that represent them should carry this through.”
The Senate version of the bill passed unanimously with a 40-0 vote. The House version is expected to go before the full body, this week.
Kanoyton stressed this isn't a Republican or Democrat issue. She said it's about the will of the people.
“Virginia Beach is the largest city in Virginia. This could happen anywhere. We support fair voting across the Commonwealth," she said. "So we have to speak up.”