Advocates, Delegate Address Redistricting and Upcoming Ballot Issues

A town hall meeting in Warren County brought together residents, advocacy leaders, and a state lawmaker for a detailed discussion on proposed constitutional amendments, voter turnout, and the future of representation in Virginia.

From left, Delegate Delores Oates, Family Foundation Action Executive Director Bruce Schlesman, and State Director Jessi Blakely speak during a town hall meeting in Warren County focused on redistricting and upcoming constitutional amendments.

The event opened with remarks from Jessi Blakely, State Director of Family Foundation Action, who urged attendees to stay engaged ahead of Election Day. “The most important thing we can do the day before election day is to contact your friends and family and make sure that they know,” Blakely said, encouraging outreach to boost turnout.

Blakely emphasized that the group has been hosting similar events across the state to discuss redistricting and other upcoming ballot issues, framing the effort as part of a broader push for voter education and participation.

Executive Director Bruce Schlesman followed, expanding on concerns about the redistricting amendment and how it was introduced. He argued the process itself was flawed, telling attendees, “This entire process was brazenly illegal and unconstitutional on multiple counts.”

Schlesman also criticized the wording voters would see on the ballot, calling it misleading. “The language is so deceptive,” he said, later adding that the amendment is presented as temporary even though “putting a constitutional amendment in place is not temporary.”

Delegate Delores Oates of House District 31 then addressed the crowd, focusing heavily on how redistricting could affect representation, especially in rural parts of the state. She described the issue as one with long-term consequences, saying, “This is probably one of the most critical elections… they’re becoming more and more critical with every one that we face.”

Oates argued that Virginia’s current congressional balance reflects a closely divided state and warned that changes could shift that balance significantly. “We are a 6-5 state,” she said, referring to the current split in congressional representation.

A central concern raised during the meeting was the potential redrawing of district lines. Oates claimed the proposed changes could break up existing districts and reduce rural influence. “If we lose this, the 6th District will be cut up into five separate parts,” she said, adding that such a shift could impact agricultural communities and local priorities.

Schlesman echoed those concerns, describing the proposal as a political maneuver. “A no vote will keep the current system intact,” he said, while warning that the alternative could result in a “10-1” split in congressional districts.

Both speakers also pointed to the timing of the vote and the amount of money involved in the campaign. Schlesman told attendees that tens of millions of dollars had been spent, describing the effort as heavily influenced by outside funding. “They are bringing in so much dark money,” he said.

Beyond redistricting, the discussion turned to two additional amendments expected to appear on the November ballot, including measures related to abortion and marriage. Schlesman argued that those proposals also contain confusing language and could have broader effects than voters realize.

“The ballot language… is incredibly deceptive,” he said, warning that voters may not fully understand the scope of what they are being asked to approve.

Throughout the evening, speakers returned to a common theme: voter participation. Blakely stressed that turnout could determine the outcome, noting that previous elections have been decided by narrow margins. “It really is going to come down to turnout,” she said.

The event concluded with a question-and-answer session, where attendees asked about legal challenges, voter access, and the potential long-term impact of the amendments. Organizers encouraged those in attendance to share information, volunteer, and make plans to vote.

The town hall is part of a series of events held across Virginia to inform voters ahead of key elections and to shape public discussion around constitutional changes.