FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—Democrats are attempting to redraw the Virginia congressional map to put four of the commonwealth’s five Republican-held seats in their hands. However, new polling finds that Virginia voters, across party lines, largely oppose their efforts.
The Daily Signal obtained a Heritage Action poll which found that 70% of Virginia Democrat voters think that electoral maps favoring one political party should not be allowed. However, Democrats in the state are currently attempting to do just that.
Heritage Action and Stefani Buhajla conducted the bipartisan poll of Virginia voters in hopes of informing voters what they were voting for, let them know this is about gerrymandering, and bring to light that they are being tricked with intentionally confusing language at the ballot box.
“It’s very possible that this can be defeated,” Buhajla told The Daily Signal. “If you look at the numbers right now, Republicans are unified against it.” She believes there are still a few who support it because of confusing language on the ballot.
The statewide referendum would allow a new electoral map, drawn by Democrats. The current map allows six Democrats and five Republicans, but the new map would likely result in 10 Democrats and one Republican representing Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The poll found that 50% of voters were confused by the language on the ballot. Buhajla believes the language is “intentional.”
The ballot states: Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional districts to restore fairness in the upcoming elections, while ensuring Virginia’s standard redistricting process resumes for all future redistricting after the 2030 census?
Buhajla told The Daily Signal voters might be confused with the words “restore fairness” and vote yes while not fully understanding what they are voting for. “I think that’s really unfortunate that voters are being tricked.”
“Nobody wants things to be unfair,” Buhajla continued. She hopes the findings of the poll “inform voters … and let them know that they need to vote and vote early.”
Gov. Abigail Spanberger previously opposed amending the state constitution to redistrict out of turn, though now she is in office, she has been supporting the parties’ efforts.
The Heritage Action poll found that 39% of voters disapprove of her performance as governor while 43% still support her.
