Malcolm Rivera
Virginia Constitutional Amendment #1, also known as the Redistricting Commission Amendment, addresses the process of drawing election district lines in the state. The amendment proposes the establishment of a redistricting commission, consisting of eight members of the General Assembly and eight citizens, to be responsible for creating fair and equitable maps for congressional and state legislative districts. This amendment aims to reduce the influence of partisan gerrymandering and ensure that voting districts are compact, contiguous, and proportional to the population. The amendment also outlines specific criteria, including adherence to federal and state laws, protection of citizens' voting rights, and the preservation of communities of interest. The vote on Virginia Constitutional Amendment #1 will have a significant impact on the state's electoral landscape and the representation of diverse communities, particularly the African American community, which has historically been affected by gerrymandering practices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | November 5, 2024 |
| What is being voted on? | Whether to amend the Constitution of Virginia to establish a redistricting commission that is responsible for drawing congressional and state legislative districts. |
| Who will be responsible for drawing the districts if the amendment is passed? | A redistricting commission consisting of eight members of the General Assembly and eight citizens of the Commonwealth |
| What happens if the redistricting commission fails to draw districts or the General Assembly fails to enact districts by certain deadlines? | The responsibility of drawing districts will go to the Supreme Court of Virginia |
| What happens if the amendment is not passed? | The responsibility for drawing the districts will remain with the General Assembly and the Governor |
| What are the criteria for the redistricting commission? | 1. Proportional population |
| 2. Adhering to federal and state requirements | |
| 3. No denial or abridgment of the rights of citizens to vote, participate in the political process, or elect representatives of their choice on the basis of race, color, or language group | |
| 4. Providing racial and language minorities with equal opportunities to participate in the political process and not diluting or diminishing their ability to elect candidates of their choice | |
| 5. Preserving communities of interest | |
| 6. Contiguous territory | |
| 7. Compact territory | |
| 8. Does not unduly favor or disfavor any political party | |
| 9. Population used in redistricting to be adjusted for incarcerated persons, counting them at their address at the time of incarceration |
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What You'll Learn
Voting 'yes' exempts veterans' vehicles from taxation
Voting yes on Virginia Constitutional Amendment #1 would amend the Constitution of Virginia to exempt certain vehicles from taxation. Specifically, it would apply to one automobile or pickup truck that is owned and used primarily by or for a veteran of the United States armed forces or the Virginia National Guard with a 100% service-connected, permanent, and total disability. The motor vehicle would be exempt from taxation from the date the veteran acquires the vehicle or January 1, 2021, whichever is later. It's important to note that a veteran claiming this exemption would not receive refunds for any taxes paid on the vehicle before January 1, 2021.
The current Virginia Constitution requires that all property be taxed but also sets out specific types of property that may be exempted from taxation. While fully disabled veterans are already exempt from Virginia real estate taxes on their primary residence, they still have to pay taxes on their vehicles. This amendment aims to change that by providing a tax exemption for their vehicles as well.
Voting yes on this amendment would mean that the Constitution of Virginia would be changed to include this new exemption. As a result, vehicles owned and used primarily by or for eligible veterans would no longer be subject to state and local taxes. This could provide a significant financial benefit to veterans with disabilities, as they would no longer have to pay these taxes on their vehicles.
On the other hand, a "no" vote would leave the Constitution of Virginia unchanged. This means that automobiles and pickup trucks owned by veterans with 100% service-connected disabilities would continue to be subject to state and local taxes. The existing tax structure would remain in place, and no new exemptions would be created specifically for veterans' vehicles.
In summary, voting yes on Virginia Constitutional Amendment #1 would have a direct impact on taxation policies related to vehicles owned by veterans with 100% service-connected disabilities. It would provide a tax exemption for these individuals, potentially easing their financial burden. A "no" vote would maintain the status quo, with no changes to the current taxation policies for veterans' vehicles.
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Voting 'no' maintains the current taxation rules
Voting no on Virginia Constitutional Amendment #1 maintains the current taxation rules for veterans' automobiles and surviving spouses' properties.
Current Taxation Rules for Veterans' Automobiles
Currently, automobiles and pickup trucks owned and used primarily by veterans of the United States armed forces or the Virginia National Guard with a 100% service-connected, permanent, and total disability are subject to state and local taxes. Voting 'no' on Amendment #1 would maintain this existing taxation rule.
Current Taxation Rules for Surviving Spouses' Properties
The Virginia Constitution currently mandates that all property be taxed, but it also specifies certain types of properties that may be exempted from taxation. One such exemption is for the principal place of residence of the surviving spouse of a soldier killed in action, as determined by the U.S. Department of Defense. Voting 'no' on Amendment #1 would maintain the current rule that only spouses of soldiers killed in action are eligible for this property tax exemption.
Redistricting Responsibilities
Additionally, a "no" vote on Amendment #1 would leave the responsibility for drawing district maps with the General Assembly and the Governor, as outlined in the current Virginia Constitution. This process ensures that districts are compact, contiguous, and proportionate in population, adhering to federal and state requirements.
Voting "no" on Virginia Constitutional Amendment #1 upholds the existing taxation policies regarding veterans' vehicles and surviving spouses' properties. It also maintains the current redistricting process led by the General Assembly and the Governor.
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Voting 'yes' establishes a redistricting commission
Voting 'yes' on Virginia Constitutional Amendment 1 establishes a redistricting commission. This commission would be responsible for drawing the congressional and state legislative districts. The commission would consist of eight members of the General Assembly and eight citizens of the Commonwealth.
The current system, in which the General Assembly and the Governor are responsible for drawing new election districts, has been criticised for being overly partisan and failing to adequately address issues of racial fairness. By contrast, the bipartisan redistricting commission would be subject to nine criteria, including proportional population, adhering to federal and state requirements, providing racial and language minorities with equal opportunities to participate in the political process, and not unduly favouring any political party.
If the redistricting commission fails to draw districts or the General Assembly fails to enact districts by certain deadlines, the responsibility of drawing districts will fall to the Supreme Court of Virginia. This process will be repeated every ten years following the national census.
Voting 'yes' on Amendment 1 would therefore establish a redistricting commission that aims to reduce political opportunism and manipulation in the process of drawing Virginia's legislative and congressional districts.
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Voting 'no' keeps redistricting with the General Assembly
Voting No on Virginia Constitutional Amendment #1
Voting no on Virginia Constitutional Amendment #1, also known as the Redistricting Commission Amendment, means that the responsibility for drawing the state's congressional and state legislative district boundaries will remain with the General Assembly and the Governor.
Under the current system, the General Assembly and the Governor work together to draw new election districts for the U.S. House of Representatives, the state Senate, and the House of Delegates. These districts must be compact and contiguous, with equal populations. This process occurs every ten years, following the U.S. Census.
By voting no, you are expressing your support for maintaining the status quo, where the General Assembly and the Governor have the sole authority to make these important decisions about electoral district boundaries.
It's important to note that the General Assembly and the Governor are subject to certain criteria when drawing these districts, including the requirement to adhere to federal and state laws that address racial and ethnic fairness, and to ensure that citizens' rights to vote and participate in the political process are not denied or abridged based on race, color, or language group.
Voting no on Amendment #1 sends a message that you believe the current redistricting process in Virginia is adequate and does not require the establishment of a separate redistricting commission, as proposed by the amendment.
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Voting ends partisan and racial gerrymandering
Virginia Constitutional Amendment #1 addresses the process of drawing election district lines, which is currently done by the General Assembly and the Governor. The amendment proposes the establishment of a redistricting commission, consisting of eight members of the General Assembly and eight citizens of the Commonwealth, to be responsible for drawing congressional and state legislative districts. This commission would aim to end partisan and racial gerrymandering in the state.
The current process of redistricting in Virginia has been criticised for being controlled by majority lawmakers, with voting districts drawn in "backrooms". The proposed amendment seeks to address this issue by shifting the responsibility for redistricting from elected officials to a bipartisan commission. This commission would include both lawmakers and citizens, with the citizens being chosen by retired judges from a list of names provided by the legislators.
Supporters of the amendment argue that it will end partisan gerrymandering and create a more fair and equitable process. They highlight that, for the first time, racial gerrymandering would be explicitly illegal in the state constitution. Additionally, the amendment would ensure that redistricting follows the principles of the Voting Rights Act and the Fourteenth Amendment, guaranteeing equal protection for all citizens.
However, some critics argue that the amendment does not go far enough to protect the interests of racial minorities. They claim that the amendment lacks specific language from the federal Voting Rights Act regarding racial equity and does not require diverse representation on the commission. There are concerns that this could lead to a lack of involvement of African Americans in the redistricting process. Additionally, critics point out that the citizens on the commission are ultimately chosen by the legislators, giving them control over the process.
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