NEW POLL: Virginia Voters Lean Against Redistricting

Virginia voters are more likely to oppose than support Democrats’ push for congressional redistricting, a newly released poll suggests.

Virginia’s Democrat-controlled legislature has approved legislation which would likely make ten of the state’s eleven House districts favorable for Democrats. The state’s U.S. House delegation is currently made up of six Democrats and five Republicans.

In order for this new map to become reality, voters will have to approve the legislature’s proposal to amend the constitution to allow for redistricting in a special election Democrats are attempting to hold in the spring.

The Roanoke College poll suggests 62% of respondents favor the current method of redistricting, which is conducted once every ten years after the census. A mere 30% oppose this approach. Eight percent did not know or refused to answer.

When asked if they would vote to approve a constitutional amendment to allow for pro-Democrat mid-cycle redistricting, a minority of 44% said they would. 52% would vote to keep the redistricting system “as it is now,” and 4% did not know or refused to answer.

The polling, which surveyed 800 Virginians from Feb. 9 to Feb. 16, has a margin of error of 4.43%.

Virginia Democrats have presented their pro-Democrat redistricting as a response to pro-Republican redistricting in states such as Texas and North Carolina.

“We are leveling the playing field,” Democrat Senate president pro tempore L. Louise Lucas said in February of the redistricting push. “Our maps are ready. Virginia is ready. We said ’10-1,’ and we meant it.”

A Virginia circuit court judge has placed a restraining order on Democrats’ attempt to hold a referendum on redistricting, potentially disrupting early voting in March.

 Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones has said he will appeal the decision.

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