“As Chair of the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee, I will continue to advocate for state and local policies that safeguard the sacred right to vote and ensure that every Virginians has a meaningful voice in their representation.”
VIRGINIA BEACH — Today, Senator Aaron Rouse released the following statement on Judge Raymond Jackson’s memorandum opinion and order issued regarding Virginia Beach election referendum:
“As Chair of the Senate Privileges and Elections committee, I have reviewed the federal judge’s memorandum opinion regarding the City of Virginia Beach referendum.
In the memorandum, Judge Raymond Jackson of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia confirmed what many of us in public service and countless citizens have known for decades: Virginia Beach’s electoral structure has perpetuated and protected social, economic, and racial inequalities under the guise of preserving “tradition” and “order,” in other words, the status quo. This status quo has directly harmed nearly every resident of Virginia Beach by systematically diluting their voices and consistently disregarding their needs.
Virginia Beach’s outdated hybrid at-large voting system has long been an obstacle to genuine representation. It has allowed entrenched interests to maintain control over economic development decisions, education funding, and public investments, often to the benefit of wealthier neighborhoods. Meanwhile, other communities remain underfunded, underserved and underrepresented.
This is not merely a matter of voting procedure, it is a matter of justice. By disregarding the clear consensus reached in Holloway v. City of Virginia Beach and the opinion of Judge Jackson, the city has actively undermined the 10-1 election system.
This resistance has been led by the current mayor and several council members. Notably, the mayor has met with former council members, certain developers, and state officials in efforts to preserve a system that reinforces economic disparities, limits upward mobility and denies equal access to power.
As Chair of the Senate Privileges and Elections committee, I will continue to advocate for state and local policies that safeguard the sacred right to vote and ensure that every Virginian has a meaningful voice in their representation. We must unequivocally reject any policy, whether explicit or implicit, that perpetuates discrimination and undermines fair representation. That is why I carried the legislation to address Virginia Beach’s 10-1 voting system the last two sessions. I look forward to leading that effort in the General Assembly again next session.
At this critical juncture, I urge the leadership of Virginia Beach to demonstrate humility, compliance and a sincere commitment to equity.
The right to vote is the bedrock of our democracy. We must ensure that this right is not only protected, but equally accessible to every citizen of the Commonwealth.”
