Official ballot question: 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?

To put it simply: Should Virginia’s Constitution be temporarily changed until 2030, to create new congressional districts that protect fair elections?

Redistricting is the process of redrawing the district boundaries that determine which elected officials represent us in the U.S. House of Representatives. This process occurs every ten years following the release of new state census data. 

In 2020, the Virginia Redistricting Commission was established to redraw district maps every ten years. It consists of 16 members: 8 citizens and 8 legislators from the Virginia General Assembly. 

• Every 10-years we get new census data. The census tells us how many seats Virginia gets in the U.S House of Representatives, how billions of federal dollars are distributed among our communities, and how diverse Virginia is.  
• While it is less common, redistricting in mid-decade is not a new practice and is allowed. 
• Leaders are proposing changes now because our democratic process is under threat. The current administration is attacking our rights and trying to put people in power who will pass legislation that is harmful to our communities, like the “Big Ugly Bill.”
• Virginia stands to gain 4 additional Democratic seats in Congress. That could make a real difference whether our tax dollars go toward expanding ICE or toward programs that actually support our immigrant families and local communities.
• This redistricting effort could stop Trump’s authoritarian agenda and make sure the people representing us at the Congress are the ones we chose and who reflect our values. 

Orange County (OC), California, was a conservative stronghold for more than 50 years, even though the state is Democratic overall. Similar to Virginia, immigrant communities became the growing majority in OC around 2010, and immigrant voters played a critical role in passing the ballot initiative to reform California’s redistricting. This result would help California keep democratic process fair and balanced, while some other states have taken less transparent or unfair approaches. 

Virginians have the opportunity to decide what happens here, whereas voters in states like Texas and Florida were not given that same choice.

• At its core, this vote is about choosing to protect Asian Americans, immigrants, undocumented people, seniors, workers, young voters, and working families during a critical moment for our communities.
• Federal proposals have called for cuts to healthcare and other support programs that many working families rely on, while increasing funding for immigrant detention and enforcement. These decisions are not just debates in Washington—they shape the safety, health, and stability of our communities. 
• What happens in Congress matters right now. Members of Congress decide immigration policy, oversee agencies like ICE, and determine how our tax dollars are spent. In moments like this, the people we elect can either enable harmful policies or push back against them and champion policies that protect and support our communities.
• Voting YES on redistricting is one way we can protect our communities and strengthen our voice in Congress. Immigrant communities deserve more than survival; we deserve the opportunity to build stable, thriving futures here in Virginia.

• Updating the maps now helps protect the political voice of Asian Americans and immigrants and ensures that our communities are not left behind in decisions that shape our future. 
• This redistricting effort is designed to ensure that Virginia’s congressional districts reflect the needs of the communities that live here today, not weaken them. 
• It is a temporary response to an unprecedented national situation created by the Trump administration and Republican governors in states like Texas and Florida. This change would remain in place only until the next census in 2030, when Virginia’s normal redistricting process would return.

1. Register to Vote or Update your voter registration status!

• Deadline: April 14, 11:59PM 
• If you don’t have a Virginia driver’s license or state-issued ID, you can still register to vote.
  1. By mail – print and fill out the application form (available in English, Korean, Vietnamese, and Spanish), then mail it to your local registrar office
  2. In-person – apply at your local registrar office
• After submitting, you will receive confirmation of your registration in the mail. If you do not receive any confirmation, check your voter record online or contact your local registrar office to make sure that your application has been processed. 
• If you miss the deadline, you can still vote! Same-day voter registration allows you to cast a provisional ballot at any early voting location in your county/city, or at your polling place on Election Day.
  1. Provisional ballots will not be counted immediately, as they are first subject to verification of identity or qualification.

2. Voting by Mail (Absentee Ballot)

• Apply for your absentee ballot by 5pm on Friday, April 10
  1. Online
  2. On paper – print, complete, and send the application form (available in English, Korean, Vietnamese, and Spanish) to your local registrar office by mail, fax, or email
  3. To vote by mail for all future elections, check ☑️ Yes in the Permanent Absentee Option section.
• Follow all instructions to fill out your ballot accurately.
  1. Make sure you have all the signatures required on the outside of the envelope, as well as the last 4 digits of your SSN (social security number).
• Return your ballot.
  1. By mail – post office must receive it by April 21 
  2. Secure drop-boxes – find locations on the instruction sheet included with your ballot in the envelope
  3. In-person – at your local registrar office before 7pm on April 21 
• You can vote absentee for any reason.
• Track the status of your ballot at https://nakasecactionfund.org/va-votehere/ 
• Request and return your ballot as soon as possible to avoid mail delays! 

3. Voting Early In-Person

• March 6 – April 18, 5:00 PM.  
• Vote at your local registrar office or an early voting location in your county/city. 
• Bring an acceptable form of identification. 
  1. It does not need to be a photo ID. Acceptable IDs include any government document that shows your name and address, or a bank statement, utility bill, or paycheck. 
  2. If you don’t have an acceptable ID, you will be allowed to vote if you sign a statement affirming your identity.
• You do not need to fill out an application or provide a reason to vote early in-person.
• If you need language assistance, it is your right to bring someone (e.g. family, friend, neighbor) into the voting booth with you, as long as they are not your employer or your union representative.

4. Voting on Election Day

• Tuesday, April 21, 6am to 7pm. Anyone in line by 7pm will be allowed to vote. 
• Vote at your polling place
• Bring an acceptable form of identification. 
  1. It does not need to be a photo ID. Acceptable IDs include any government document that shows your name and address, or a bank statement, utility bill, or paycheck. 
  2. If you don’t have an acceptable ID, you will be allowed to vote if you sign a statement affirming your identity.
• If you need language assistance, it is your right to bring someone (e.g. family, friend, neighbor) into the voting booth with you, as long as they are not your employer or your union representative.

5. Get Involved

• Sign-up to volunteer with Hamkae Power! We will be doorknocking and phonebanking every week leading up to the election. 
• Apply to be a canvasser, join our team and bring us to victory! 
• Share this FAQ with your community. Voter turnout for special elections is often low, and Asian Americans are least likely to be contacted ahead of an election. So let’s share this information! Every vote matters!