Currently, there is a proposed amendment in Virginia that is set to be voted on in April of this year. The ballot question is about whether the Virginia General Assembly should be allowed to redistrict for the upcoming midterm elections in order to gain more democrat seats in Congress, with the stated goal of “restoring fairness in the upcoming election.”
This action is in response to several typically red states redistricting in order to gain more republican states, starting with Texas in July of last year. The Texas Republicans did this in response to Trump asking them for more seats.
I am not necessarily against the proposed amendment. I am politically left, I do not agree with a vast majority of the actions that Trump takes and I would like to see a Congress that is less agreeable with him. However, if you disagree with the amendment, whether due to the fact that you like Trump’s policies or because you disagree with all gerrymandering, I totally understand that.
I am not writing this to talk about which way I hope this ballot goes. My problem is with the way that Virginia democrats are promoting this vote.
I’m sure a lot of you have seen the same ads that I have on my Youtube: They all open with a democrat talking to the camera, whether it is Obama or a current Congressman. The politician talks about how Trump is dangerous, followed by the information about other red states redistricting. Then, they end with the democrat talking to the camera, saying “Vote yes by April 21.”
These ads have bothered me ever since the first time I saw one of them. They very intentionally avoid saying what the proposed amendment is actually about, preferring terms like “preserve fair elections” and “stop Trump.” In none of the ads I have seen have they said the word “redistricting.”
This has a very dangerous implication in my eyes. It is implying that you are supposed to vote the party line, no matter the issue; forget what the actual policy is, we have to beat the other team. Whoever is writing these ads expect democrats to vote yes out of fear and out of the fact they are supposed to vote the party line.
I have held a perception that the left side of politics is less influenced by partisanship, especially when compared to some of the hard-core MAGA crowd, but that is exactly what this ad campaign plays into.
Blind partisanship that rejects deeper inspection and thought about current issues and policies is dangerous, whether it is coming from the right or the left. Whatever party you align yourself with, your positions on these issues should be based on your own values and beliefs, not what your party tells you your position should be.
This all being said, voting yes on this ballot is still entirely justifiable, as is voting no. You should go and vote for what you believe is right. Please, just know what you are voting for, and, more importantly, why.
https://www.elections.virginia.gov/election-law/proposed-amendment-for-april-2026-special-election/
https://apnews.com/article/trump-congress-house-republicans-texas-redistricting-d18e8280a32872d9eefcbb26f66a0331
https://www.ncsl.org/redistricting-and-census/changing-the-maps-tracking-mid-decade-redistricting