Virginia Beach must change the way it elects local leaders after Northam signs law

Virginia Beach — Gov. Ralph Northam signed into law legislation that will force Virginia Beach to change the way local leaders are elected.

Starting next year, Virginia Beach will no longer be allowed to have a voting system in which district representatives are elected by all voters across the city.

After Jan. 1, district representatives for the City Council and School Board will only appear on ballots for the voters who reside within the bounds of the district.

Seven council and school board members are required to live in the district they represent. Four representatives, including the mayor, will continue to be elected by all voters.

The council could ask the General Assembly for permission to change the city’s charter to allow all council members to be considered at-large, which would let the council members live anywhere in the city. Neighboring cities such as Portsmouth and Chesapeake have this type of voting system. If the council picked this path, it could hold a referendum, said City Attorney Mark Stiles. The council will be briefed on the issue in the coming months.

The voting system also could be affected by the outcome of a pending federal lawsuit that challenged the legality of the city’s current voting system. The trial ended in October and the judge has yet to issue a ruling. In a recent court filing, the city said it thinks the new law renders the lawsuit moot and requested the judge dismiss the case.

Alissa Skelton, 757-995-9043, alissa.skelton@pilotonline.com.