UpVote Statement on Redistricting Referendum

March 13, 2026

In the middle of the last decade, Virginians from across the political spectrum united to end partisan gerrymandering in the Commonwealth. 

That effort — led by OneVirginia2021 — resulted in a constitutional amendment creating the Virginia Redistricting Commission. The process approved by a majority of voters produced some of the fairest congressional maps in the country. We remain proud of that achievement and relieved that no effort is underway to repeal the Commission. The next decennial redistricting will still be conducted by a bipartisan, citizen-led commission. Fair maps remain in Virginia’s future.

Today, we write as the Board of Directors of UpVote Virginia and the UpVote Virginia Foundation. While we are rooted in that earlier reform movement, we are a separate organization with a broader mission to strengthen Virginia’s democratic systems. The current proposal on the ballot to temporarily change how congressional maps are drawn must be considered within a rapidly shifting national landscape.

As national “gerrymandering wars” began to unfold, supporters of fair redistricting in Virginia felt secure in the idea that the Commonwealth would be safe from being put in this difficult situation. But such is not the case; through a series of unorthodox efforts, this choice is once again before us.

We recognize the genuine fears many communities hold about the consequences of continued single-party control in Congress. We also recognize the risks inherent in reopening the door to partisan map-drawing, no matter what the reason. 

At this stage, we believe the decision must be left to the voters.

UpVote Virginia will focus on providing clear, unbiased information so Virginians can make an informed decision in April. Regardless of the referendum’s outcome and the pending Virginia Supreme Court ruling, our mission remains the same — to improve the structure of our electoral system so that it better reflects the will of the people and produces a more representative, inclusive, and accountable government.

UpVote Virginia’s philosophy has been clear since our founding: traditional pick-one winner-take-all elections leave our system vulnerable to gerrymandering and unrepresentative outcomes. Structural reforms — including ranked choice voting and proportional representation — offer durable solutions that reduce the power of maps to distort representation. 

There are existing proposals at the federal level that would stop gerrymandering entirely, ending the redistricting “arms race.” To congressional incumbents and hopefuls on both sides of the aisle, we look forward to your support for these solutions.

Whatever happens in April, we invite all Virginians — across parties and perspectives — to join us in building a system where representation is fair by design, and where maps reflect communities and the people who live in them, rather than political considerations.

Signed,

Kathleen Utgoff                                                   Jerome Legions

President, UpVote Virginia Foundation                President, UpVote Virginia