Voters in Virginia approved on Tuesday, 21 April 2026, a constitutional amendment that allows the state’s Democrat-controlled legislative assembly to draw new congressional districts.

The map will give the Democrats a clear advantage and could provide the party with up to four additional seats in the House of Representatives, writes The Epoch Times.

Associated Press (AP) declared “Yes”, or the yes side, the winner at around 20:50 US time. The result ended at approximately 51% yes against 49% no. The new redistricting bypasses the bipartisan electoral district commission and will, if it stands, last throughout the decade. The current distribution is 6 Democratic and 5 Republican districts.

The new map is to give the Democrats 10 out of 11 districts. The Democrats justify the change as necessary in order to counter Republican redistricting in states such as Texas.

— Donald Trump’s decision to prioritise the redrawing of electoral districts rather than lowering costs for families has created extraordinary circumstances for states such as Virginia, said Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner (both D) in a statement.

Republicans describe it as a power grab. Former Governor Glenn Youngkin said:

— What we are seeing here are the worst of the worst attempting to deprive millions upon millions of Virginia’s inhabitants of the right to vote.

Several districts acquire unusual shapes. Among other things, Northern Virginia is divided, and one district is compared to a lobster on account of its long, narrow extension. Another district follows the Blue Ridge Parkway and connects several Democratic university towns.

The map is not, however, final. The Virginia Supreme Court is still considering a lawsuit as to whether the plan is lawful, and the court has the final word.