Bills to incorporate a 10-district voting system used since 2022 in Virginia Beach into the city charter cleared both chambers in the General Assembly this week.
Steps remain to codify the 10-1 system, as it is known, but a change that has stalled in the past now faces better odds in Richmond.
The bills next face a process in which chambers consider what the other has advanced. If signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger, a change would update the city’s charter to enact a system imposed in 2021 by a federal judge who found the city’s former at-large system diluted minority voting strength.
Years of political and court complications followed. In November, 53.4% of city voters supported the 10-1 over a “modified” version of the former 7-3-1 system. Language reflecting the former system remains in the charter, though it has not been used since the federal court order was issued and changes to state law.
Some critics of the move to a 10-1 system have pointed to the unchanged charter to argue elections held under the system are not legitimate. However, a state judge who found the city erred in adopting the 10-1 without state approval didn’t change outcomes of elections held under it.
City Council unanimously endorsed the referendum result to change the charter to 10-1.
State Sen. Aaron Rouse, a Democrat, previously served on the Virginia Beach City Council and introduced the Senate bill. He said results this week are progress for the city.
“It’s a proud day for every single resident of Virginia Beach,” Rouse said Friday. “It’s a day that many folks thought would never come, but it’s here. And it’s a proud day, really, for democracy.”
Del. Kelly Fowler, a Virginia Beach Democrat who carried the House bill, posted a message on social media about the outcome Friday.
“It’s not over until it’s over,” she wrote, “but it looks like we are almost to the finish line.”
Virginia Beach Deputy City Attorney Chris Boynton said the General Assembly votes on the charter bills and related general law bills may help Virginia Beach move past a time of uncertainty.
“We’d like to have closure for our City Council and our residents,” Boynton said.
“The people have spoken,” Mayor Bobby Dyer said Friday, referring to the result of the referendum. “Let’s put it behind us. Let’s move forward together with locked arms.”
Councilmember David Hutcheson has won two elections under the 10-1 system — a special election and then reelection. He said 10-1 makes representatives more responsive to constituents while members also serve the needs of the whole city.
“The referendum proved overwhelmingly it’s what was wanted,” Hutcheson said. “I feel it’s a fair and just system and I’m glad the citizens of Virginia Beach feel the same way.”
In Richmond, the charter change passed Thursday in the Senate by a 27-13 margin after concerns about opposition by the Republican minority in the chamber.
Friday, the House of Delegates advanced the charter change, 83-13, with an abstention.
Charter changes need two-thirds to pass each chamber.
Prior efforts to update the charter were blocked by Republicans. In 2024, despite support enough to pass both chambers, former Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed the change citing a lawsuit against the 10-1 in state court.
Last year, the House passed the update but it failed to advance in the Senate — which had passed it unanimously in 2024 — along a party-line vote.
Sen. Bill DeSteph, a Republican from Virginia Beach who formerly served on City Council, opposed the change Thursday. He said 7-3-1 voting allowed people to vote for more members of local bodies.
Under the 10-1, people select a district representative and the mayor, who is elected citywide. Under a modified 7-3-1, citizens could select five of 11 members.
“I believe we should have the opportunity to vote for as many of our leaders who influence our pocketbooks as possible,” DeSteph said.
He added that a case being considered by the U.S. Supreme Court that could impact the U.S. Voting Rights Act “may end up unwinding what happened in Virginia Beach.”
