A lawsuit concerning the election system in VIRGINIA BEACH has been revived, wiht plaintiffs seeking to block efforts to implement at-large representation. The city is planning a referendum on the election system in November, but city attorneys argue that no changes have been implemented yet, making the challenge premature and requesting a dismissal.

The current legal battle stems from a federal lawsuit in 2021 that mandated a shift to district-based representation. A federal judge agreed to reinstate the case this summer after the City Council scheduled a referendum vote for November, seeking voter input on the election of council members and School Board members.

the referendum will ask residents to choose between two systems: the existing 10-1 system (10 council districts, each electing one member, plus a mayor elected at-large) and a modified 7-3-1 system (seven district-elected council members, three at-large council members, plus the mayor).

While the 7-3-1 system is codified in the city’s charter and was modified by a 2021 general law, the 10-1 system was used in the 2022 and 2024 City Council elections. The next City Council and School Board elections are scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026.

Plaintiffs Expand Lawsuit

Two additional VIRGINIA BEACH residents, Carlos Pagán and Nicole Boehm, have joined Latasha Holloway and Georgia Allen in the lawsuit. Thay are challenging the 7-3-1 system, arguing that it “does not provide Black, Latino, and AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) voters in the City with an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice to the city Council,” according to a recent amended complaint.

the plaintiffs contend that the minority community in VIRGINIA BEACH is entitled to three minority opportunity districts under the Virginia Voting Rights Act, a condition they believe the 7-3-1 system cannot fulfill.They are seeking a court order to prevent the city from using the 7-3-1 election method for the City Council.

The city has responded