:: Va8GOP.org :: 8th District Republican Committee

*Virginia's Eighth Congressional District Republican Committee*
Alexandria Arlington	www.Va8GOP.org	Fairfax County Falls Church

Election 2004:
State Constitutional amendments

In addition to voting for President and Congress, Virginians will also be asked to vote this year on two amendments to the State Constitution: one dealing with the effective date of legislative redistricting, and one to extend the line of succession for Governor.
#1: Redistricting
State legislative districts are redistricted every 10 years, following the national census. If a legislative office becomes vacant (due to retirement, incapacitation or death) after redistricting, but before the next regularly scheduled election, a special election is held -- but there's a question on whether to use the old or new district lines.
The current State Constitution has been interpreted to require special to elections to be held using the new district lines, even though other seats in the legislature continue to represent the old districts. The proposed amendment would provide that redistricting does not take effect until the next regularly scheduled election, so that any special elections held before that date would continue to use the old district lines.
NOTE: While it sounds obscure, that question does arise. In the latter half of 2001, shortly after the General Assembly redistricted all legislative seats, there were three vacancies in the State Senate (two retirements and one death), and three special elections held to fill those vacancies. The next regular election for State Senate was not until 2003, but state law required all three special elections in 2001 to use the new district lines -- including one district which had been moved to a different part of the state.
For more information (including the text of the amendment), see: State Board of Elections explanation
#2: Line of succession
The State Constitution outlines who becomes Governor of Virginia, in the event the sitting Governor is unable to finish his term (due to retirement, incapacitation or death). The constitution currently specifies three officeholders in the line of succession: the Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and Speaker of the House of Delegates. If none of those individuals is available, the State House meets and elects a new Governor.
While it is unlikely that the list of successors would be exhausted, the current threat of terrorism does raise the risk (however small) that none of those officeholders would be available -- and, worse yet, that the House might not be able to meet in a reasonable time. That could leave state government without a chief executive at a time of crisis. The proposed amendment was recommended by a homeland security commission, and would specify additional successors as Acting Governor, in the event of such an attack.
For more information (including the text of the amendment), see: State Board of Elections explanation