voting
- Virginia Removes 6,531 Non-Citizen Voter Registrations Following Settlement Agreement
Virginia has cancelled 6,531 declared non-citizen voter registrations as reported through Judicial Watch findings. The state continues its review of voter eligibility based on self-declared status. This step forms part of routine maintenance of official voting records. Settlement Agreement Overview Virginia reached a settlement with certain groups that pauses the removal program for declared nonci
- Virginia voters could gain a bigger voice in choosing the 2028 presidential nominees
Virginia is on track to become the sixth and final early-voting state in the 2028 Democratic presidential nominating calendar under a proposal unveiled last week, a move that could bring presidential candidates, campaign spending and national attention to the commonwealth in the weeks before Super Tuesday. The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee recommended […]
- Virginia Congressman Suhas Subramanyam Discusses Working Relationships in Congress
Representative Suhas Subramanyam, a Democrat representing Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, has noted his capacity to work effectively with progressive members of his party. These include individuals associated with efforts to reform or eliminate certain federal immigration enforcement mechanisms. Subramanyam assumed office in January 2025 after serving in the Virginia House of Delegates and
- Spanberger restores voting rights to more than 60,000 Felons
Gov. Abigail Spanberger has restored voting and other civil rights to more than 60,000 Felons since taking office in January, reversing the more restrictive restoration process adopted by her predecessor and reopening voting access for thousands of people with past felony convictions, her administration said Friday. The 66,085 Virginians whose rights have been restored may […]
- Loudoun County FY2027 Budget Allocates $28.5 Million for Employee Compensation Increases
Loudoun County officials have officially unveiled the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, which heavily prioritizes long-term workforce retention and recruitment through substantial compensation enhancements. At the center of this comprehensive financial plan is a $28.5 million allocation specifically designated for employee pay increases across multiple municipal departments. County Administrator T
- Even without a new map, Buttigieg says Va. Dems can win with focus on healthcare, affordability
Virginia Democrats lost the congressional map they hoped would help them win as many as four Republican-held seats in this year’s midterm elections. Pete Buttigieg says they may not need it. The former U.S. transportation secretary and 2020 presidential candidate said Democrats can still make significant gains under Virginia’s existing map if they field competent […]
- VA-01 Democrats escalate dispute with state party over primary neutrality
Six Democrats seeking their party’s nomination in Virginia’s 1st congressional district have escalated their dispute with the Democratic Party of Virginia, arguing newly disclosed federal campaign finance records undercut party leaders’ claims that they have remained neutral in the crowded primary field. In a new letter sent Monday to DPVA Chair Lamont Bagby, members of […]
- Fairfax County Proposes $49.17 Million Increase in Personnel Services for Fiscal Year 2027 Budget
The Fairfax County Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal includes a significant financial investment in the local government workforce, featuring a net increase of $49.17 million allocated specifically for personnel services. This proposed fiscal adjustment is designed to fully fund vital compensation increases for municipal workers operating across various county departments. Central to this funding b
- Virginia Enacts New Law Prohibiting Bribery to Influence Voter Registration
Virginia lawmakers have passed and enacted House Bill 113, a measure designed to strengthen protections against corruption in the state’s voter registration system. The bill, introduced in the 2026 Regular Session of the Virginia House of Delegates, amends the Code of Virginia to address new offenses related to bribing individuals to register to vote. Delegate […]
- Virginia Bill Seeks to Raise Penalties for Voluntary Manslaughter Convictions
The Virginia House of Delegates reviewed a piece of legislation during the 2026 regular session designed to alter the penalty for voluntary manslaughter. Known as House Bill 102, or HB102, the measure was introduced to amend and reenact section 18.2-35 of the Code of Virginia, specifically addressing the punishment for this particular criminal offense. As […]
- Virginia Enacts New Rules for Handguns Left in Unattended Motor Vehicles
The Virginia General Assembly has passed legislation that sets forth specific requirements for the storage of handguns in unattended motor vehicles. This bill, designated as House Bill 110, was approved by the governor on April 13, 2026, and will take effect on July 1, 2026, as Chapter 560 of the Acts of Assembly. The primary […]
- Virginia General Assembly Passes Bill to Ban Bribes for Voter Registration
The Virginia General Assembly has recently approved and enacted a new law designed to protect the voter registration process from corruption. House Bill 113, which has been signed into law, amends the Code of Virginia to prohibit the solicitation or acceptance of any money or thing of value to influence a person’s decision to register […]
- Virginia Delegate’s Bill to Increase Penalty for Voluntary Manslaughter Fails in House Committee
The 2026 Virginia legislative session featured the introduction of House Bill 102 by Delegate Jason Ballard. This legislation proposed significant changes to the penalty for voluntary manslaughter in the Commonwealth. According to the summary as introduced, the bill aims to increase the penalty for voluntary manslaughter. Currently, this offense is classified as a Class 5 […]
- Virginia Bill Restricts Sources for Voter Registration Cancellations and Reinforces Military Voter Protections
The Virginia General Assembly has taken action on legislation that addresses the cancellation of voter registrations in the Commonwealth. Designated as House Bill 111, or HB111, during the 2026 Regular Session, this measure was introduced to regulate the sources of information that general registrars can utilize when deciding to remove a voter from the registration […]
- Va. education department says failed proposal to delay cut scores stemmed from legislative mandates
The Virginia Department of Education says its unsuccessful and much-criticized pitch to push back the state’s new proficiency benchmarks for reading and math by two years was a result of legislative mandates, recommendations from the state’s official legislative watchdog and feedback from a statewide listening tour over a span of three months. Last month, staff […]
- Rep. Suhas Subramanyam Votes Against KIDS Act Despite Having Children of His Own
As a parent in Loudoun County, Virginia, few issues hit closer to home than the safety of our children online. In an era where smartphones are ubiquitous and social media platforms dominate young lives, protecting minors from harmful sexual content, predatory interactions, and addictive algorithms should be a non-negotiable priority. Yet, on June 29, 2026, […]
- Virginia Legislation Refines Voter Registration Cancellation Procedures
The Virginia House of Delegates has advanced legislation aimed at refining the procedures for cancelling voter registrations in the state. House Bill 111 amends and reenacts Section 24.2-427 of the Code of Virginia, focusing on the sources of data used for such cancellations and reinstating protections for specific voter groups. The bill requires that general […]
- Democrats challenge Beyer in Va.’s 8th Congressional District, marred by federal layoffs
Everyone in Northern Virginia knows someone who was “DOGEd,” either laid off or otherwise impacted by sweeping cuts initiated through President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. Virginia is home to nearly 200,000 federal workers; over 20,000 of them lost their jobs last year. The pain of those losses runs […]
- Virginia’s abortion amendment faces legal challenges over procedural step, language
A legal challenge to Virginia’s pending reproductive rights amendment is headed toward a hearing later this month, with potential implications for two other pending constitutional amendments. At the center of Bansley v. Nardo is an argument that the clerk of the House of Delegates, Paul Nardo, failed to send copies of the amendment to circuit […]
- Rejected Virginia student voter registrations, Judge approves settlement
A federal judge has approved a consent decree requiring Virginia election officials to accept certain voter registration applications submitted by college students, resolving a lawsuit that alleged students were being improperly denied registration over missing dormitory-related details. The agreement, approved last week by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, bars electi
- High-potency marijuana fuels state debates over psychosis and addiction risks
When her son was a teenager, Connecticut mom Amy Wadsworth said, he was the type of kid parents rarely worry about. He played sports, cared about his health and stayed away from drugs. In 2018, when he left West Hartford to start his freshman year at American University in Washington, D.C., she expected his biggest […]
- Virginia’s romance with data centers has cooled, but nobody benefits if there’s a full breakup
Data centers. Can’t live with them. Can’t live without them. But we could do with data centers slowing their jackrabbit pace of reproduction in congested suburbs and, instead, building where they could fill a need and do more economic good. Our romance with data centers has cooled in Virginia, home to the world’s greatest concentration […]
- Loudoun County School Board Passes Budget Increase for Employee Bonuses
The Loudoun County School Board convened to address a proposed adjustment to its operating budget. Member Ross Svenson put forward a motion seeking an additional 6.2 million dollars dedicated to staff bonuses. The proposal received consideration during the meeting and advanced to a vote. The board members present reached a consensus in support of the […]
- Fairfax County Spotlights Historical Women Leaders in Science and Social Change
Katherine Johnson, born in 1918 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, demonstrated exceptional mathematical ability from a young age. Her parents emphasized education, enabling her to complete high school by age 13 and attend West Virginia State College, where she exhausted the available mathematics curriculum. After teaching, Johnson joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics […]
- Republican Party of Virginia’s State Central Committee Declines to Oppose Three Proposed Constitutional Amendments
RICHMOND, Va. — The Republican Party of Virginia’s State Central Committee has voted to take no official position on three constitutional amendments that will appear on the November 2026 general election ballot. The decision has drawn criticism from within the party, including from Delegate Karen Hamilton, who argues it conflicts with the party’s platform and […]
- Thousands of Virginians will regain the right to vote next month
Virginia resident Tati King, a former felon who helped lead a major lawsuit to win back his and others’ voting rights, stands outside of Virginia’s Capitol. (Photo courtesy of Phuong Tran/ACLU of Virginia) Tati Abu King, who was formerly incarcerated for a felony, has been waiting years to be able to vote again. A court […]
- Virginia Democrats seek emergency injunction from US Supreme Court in redistricting fight
The U.S. Supreme Court building. (Photo by Ariana Figueroa/States Newsroom) Virginia Democrats on Monday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to revive the voter-approved redistricting amendment struck down last week by the Supreme Court of Virginia, escalating the fight over the state’s congressional map to the nation’s highest court with the 2026 midterms inching closer. In […]
- Virginia Supreme Court Strikes Down Voter-Approved Redistricting Amendment, Sparking Debate Over Procedural Rules Versus Voter Intent
RICHMOND, Va. — On May 8, 2026, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled that a Democrat-backed constitutional amendment authorizing temporary partisan redistricting of congressional districts violated the state constitution’s procedural requirements. The decision nullifies the results of the April 21 special election referendum, in which voters narrowly approved the measure by approximately 51.7% to 48.3
- New court challenge targets Virginia abortion amendment ballot language
Family Foundation president Victoria Cobb speaks alongside lawyers and plaintiffs in a case challenging Virginia’s pending ballot referendum to enshrine reproductive rights into the state’s constitution on April 30, 2026. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury) Tazewell County makes news once again — this time over a second lawsuit challenging a proposed constitutional amendment that […]
- Abigail Spanberger’s first 100 days are flashing a warning Virginia Democrats should not ignore
Gov. Abigail Spanberger signs bills to set referendums for four constitutional amendments on Feb. 6, 2026. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/ Virginia Mercury) Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed a package of gun bills on April 10, including a ghost gun ban, an industry liability measure and a closure of the intimate partner loophole. The bills are […]
- Virginia Supreme Court weighs challenge to redistricting amendment
The Supreme Court of Virginia in Richmond on April 27, 2026. (Photo by Samantha Willis/Virginia Mercury) The Supreme Court of Virginia on Monday heard arguments over whether Democrats followed constitutional requirements in advancing a voter-approved redistricting amendment, zeroing in on disputes over election timing, public notice requirements and the scope of a special session last […]
- Tazewell Circuit Court Blocks Certification of Virginia’s Redistricting Referendum, Ruling Process Unconstitutional
TAZEWELL, Va. — In a dramatic late-day ruling issued Wednesday, April 22, 2026, the Tazewell Circuit Court blocked certification of results from Tuesday’s special election on a controversial constitutional amendment aimed at allowing the Virginia General Assembly to redraw congressional districts before the next federal census. Chief Judge Jack Hurley reaffirmed earlier findings that both…
- Virginia voter guide: Ballot questions voters about Democratic efforts to redraw the congressional map
This post was originally published on this site.Legal challenges to redistricting efforts are playing out in court. A referendum which would allow Democratic legislators to temporarily redraw Virginia’s congressional map continues to move forward. The redistricting plan has been put up for early voting and a special election is scheduled for April 21. Virginia Democrats […]
- Virginia League of Women Voters Endorses SB 58 to Increase Mail Ballot Deadlines
SB 58 aims to adapt election procedures to contemporary challenges in mail delivery. Currently, mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by noon on the third day following the election. The bill would modify these parameters, potentially extending receipt hours and accounting for processing delays. Supporters, including Democratic lawmakers, contend that postal […]
- Early voting underway for Virginians to weigh in on congressional redistricting plan
This post was originally published on this site.Virginians can now begin voting on whether the state should temporarily redraw its congressional districts as part of a rare springtime special election. The step, tied to a proposed constitutional amendment, comes after Virginia’s General Assembly approved the measure, followed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s signing. Former President Barack […]
- Marty Martinez will soon require hunting with dogs to be permitted
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources will issue a permit for $19 to hunters who use their dogs under a House Bill that is heading to the Senate. Del. Marty Martinez (D-Loudoun County) introduced HB 1396 which would require individuals and organizations to obtain permits to hunt with dogs game animals, fur-bearing or nuisance animals. […]
- A Constitutional Change Too Far: Questions About Virginia’s Reproductive Freedom Amendment
The proposed Reproductive Freedom Amendment, currently being considered in Virginia, would create a constitutional right to abortion that is extreme, dangerous, and goes far beyond protecting women’s health and rights. Even voters who generally support abortion access should give it careful consideration. This amendment would elevate abortion rights to constitutional status in Virginia, shifting a
- Lawmakers retreat from VMI oversight transfer, advance board overhaul
The Virginia Military Institute in Lexington. The House Education Committee on Wednesday advanced a revised bill reshaping the institute’s Board of Visitors while dropping a proposal that would have transferred oversight to Virginia State University. (Photo by Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury) The House Education Committee on Wednesday scrapped a proposal to place the Virginia Military Institute [
- Senate Republican Caucus Celebrates Court Victory Protecting Virginia Voters and the Redistricting Commission
In October 2025, House Speaker Don Scott reconvened the 2024 Special Session—originally called by Governor Youngkin solely for budget purposes
- Washington County Sets April Special Election on School Sales Tax Amid Holston Merger Fears
Supervisors vote 5-2 for an April 6 referendum after a packed hearing; superintendent cites $200 million facilities needs while Damascus residents link the tax to Holston High consolidation fears.
- Virginia’s early voting season begins Friday, ushering in pivotal election
Early voting begins Friday in Virginia’s high-stakes general election, opening a six-week window for voters to cast their ballots in races for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, all 100 seats of the House of Delegates and some local offices. This year’s early voting period arrives with several notable changes to state election law, including a shorter registration deadline and new re
- Montgomery County school needs, legislative priorities to be addressed
Montgomery County supervisors will take action to put various school system funding into the new county budget when they meet Monday. The county board will also review its priorities for legislation in the 2026 General Assembly and will learn about absentee voting sites for the November election. The board will convene at 7 p.m. in […]
- Biden Judge Orders Virginia To Put More Than 1,500 ‘Self-Identified’ Noncitizens Back On The Voter Rolls
A federal judge appointed by Democrats ordered Virginia on Friday to add more than 1,500 allegedly self-identified noncitizens, back onto the voter rolls of the state before the November election.
- Arlington’s new voting machines may be delayed in their selection and use
Arlington is currently on the hunt for its next-generation voting equipment. The question of when voters will be able use it is still open.
- Early voting for the Loudoun County January special election starts December 11
Early voting for the Jan. 7, 2025 special election begins Wednesday, Dec. 11.
- Virginia governor vows to petition the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary over voter roll issue
Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles ruled that Virginia must add 1,500 voters identified as non-citizens back onto the state’s voter rolls.