By Taylor Boyd
The Patrick County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution declining to begin early voting before the expiration of the constitutional waiting period at a special-called meeting on Friday, Feb. 20.
Under the resolution, early voting for the proposed constitutional amendment to allow for redistricting will begin in Patrick County on Thursday, April 16.
The resolution states that the final passage of House Joint Resolution 4, which approved the proposed constitutional amendment for voting, occurred on Jan. 16. Ninety days from that date will expire on April 16.
Early voting is scheduled to begin on March 6, more than a month before the expiration of the 90-day constitutional period.
“The Board of Supervisors is constitutionally bound by oath to uphold the Constitution of Virginia. The Board of Supervisors determines that authorizing early voting before April 16, 2026, presents a substantial constitutional question under Article XII, Section I,” the resolution states.
The resolution also states that the board “directs the General Registrar and Electoral Board not to commence early voting and that no County-owned facilities or County resources shall be made available to conduct early voting on the proposed constitutional amendment before April 16, 2026, unless and until a court of competent jurisdiction determines that such early voting is constitutionally permissible.”
The resolution was sent to the Virginia State Board of Elections and the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia after its passage.
Former delegate and attorney Tim Anderson was authorized to represent the Patrick County Board of Supervisors before any court of competent jurisdiction in Virginia concerning the resolution.
More than a dozen attendees at the meeting erupted into applause following the resolution’s adoption.
Following the vote, Jonathan Wood, of the Peters Creek District, said he believes having such a monumental event as changing Virginia’s district lines through a state election should not be rushed.
“It needs to carry out the way that our Virginia Constitution says that it should be carried out, and therefore I have full support for this resolution,” Wood said.
Board Chairman Andrew Overby, of the Dan River District, said the resolution is much more than just trying to delay the start of early voting, but a symbol of the board’s duty to uphold the Constitution of Virginia.
“In my eyes, Constitutional amendments are not something to be taken lightly. I consider these to be supreme laws of the Commonwealth as well as the nation when dealing with the United States Constitution. As elected representatives, we have a duty to uphold the Constitution, and when we do not, our constituents have every right and duty to hold us accountable and challenge our decisions,” he said.
In this case, Overby said the General Assembly has rushed through a constitutional amendment change that he believes is unlawful solely to try to gain additional power in Washington, D.C., and intentionally disenfranchise millions of Virginians.
“The General Assembly has violated their own rules on multiple occasions to try to get this illegal referendum put up for a vote,” he said.
Overby noted Virginians already spoke about the issue in 2020 when the original constitutional amendment to prevent one-party control over redistricting was passed with overwhelmingly bipartisan support.
“Any majority in the General Assembly doesn’t get to just decide that the Constitution no longer applies to them and then propose another supposedly temporary process that would unfairly give them total control. The Constitution is not a temporary document that should just be changed on a whim because of a shift in majority control,” Overby said.
Changes to the Constitution should only happen when they are substantiated and approved in a bipartisan manner, Overby added.
“Unfortunately, the Supreme Court of Virginia has also failed to review and decide on this matter in a timely manner. Hopefully, if enough cities and counties in the Commonwealth stand up and pass resolutions like this one, it will push the Supreme Court or the General Assembly to do the right thing and withdraw this redistricting referendum,” he said.
