Virginia Beach continuing fight against federal ruling declaring voting system discriminatory

By STACY PARKER
THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT | JAN 19, 2022 AT 12:11 PM

VIRGINIA BEACH — The City Council decided Tuesday by a 6-4 vote to continue appealing a federal judge’s ruling that the city’s voting system was discriminatory and forced sweeping changes.

Councilman Aaron Rouse had requested to vote on the appeal months after the process began in an effort to end it. Rouse questioned the principle behind the fight and wanted to use the money for the appeal on other city needs.

U.S. District Court Judge Raymond Jackson ruled in March that Virginia Beach’s former at-large election system for city council members “denies Hispanics, African Americans and Asians equal access to the electoral and political process,” violating the federal 1965 Voting Rights Act.

The court appointed a political science professor from California to draw new voting district lines that eliminate at-large seats. Candidates will be elected only by voters living within their district. The city launched an advertising campaign to inform voters of the new system for this year’s elections.

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Stacy Parker
Staff Writer

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Stacy Parker covers Virginia Beach government, tourism and development. She’s a Virginia Beach native and a University of Maryland graduate who began her career in journalism as a teen correspondent for The Pilot years ago.