Vote No on the April 21 Referendum

We, the People of this remarkable Commonwealth, find ourselves challenged and disregarded by our own elected officials.

We are asked to ratify by our vote on April 21st a referendum that would negate a previously established Constitutional law that forbade our elected officials from changing the construct of our Federal House of Representatives districts in a manner that is partisan in fact, or that would have the appearance of partisanship.

Our elected officials in Richmond seek this referendum so that they may do precisely what the Constitution forbids.

They are counting on a favorable vote based on the notion that if our President and his supporters are against the referendum, their voters will reflexively support it.

They find comfort in the fact that the low voter turnout of an out-of-cycle initiative will work to their advantage.

The initiative effectively ignores the proper expectation of approximately 47% of the Citizens of the Commonwealth to have anything close to proper representation in the House of Representatives. Should this referendum succeed, our elected officials in Richmond will change the construct of the districts in a manner designed to provide 10 House seats for the Democrats and 1 safe seat for Republicans.

State Senate President pro Tempore Louis Lucas claims that the Commonwealth must undertake this draconian measure to counterbalance redistricting measures in Texas and elsewhere.

I must remind Senator Lucas, and our newly minted Governor Spanberger, our other State Senate Members, and our Delegates that their only responsibility is to properly represent the interests and wishes of this Commonwealth’s citizens. It is not their responsibility to right their perceived wrongs in Texas or any other State of these United States.

The current state of the issue finds that the State Senate voted in a straight party-line manner to advance the referendum.

And the Commonwealth’s Supreme Court declined an effort to support the Constitution with an intervention.

So now it is up to us, We the People. All conservatives, Republicans, fair-minded Democrats, and independents must act on or before April 21st to assert the will of We the People, to step into the booth and defeat this absurdity.

Frank Joyce
Winchester, VA

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the letters published on this page are solely those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Royal Examiner’s editorial team, its affiliates, or advertisers. The Royal Examiner does not endorse or take responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or validity of any statements made by the authors. The Royal Examiner has not independently verified the statements and claims presented in the letters. Readers are encouraged to exercise their own judgment and critical thinking skills when evaluating the content. Any reliance on the information in the letters is at the reader’s own risk.

While the Royal Examiner makes every effort to publish diverse opinions, it does not guarantee the publication of all received letters. The Royal Examiner reserves the right to edit letters for clarity, length, and adherence to editorial guidelines. Moreover, the Royal Examiner does not assume any liability for any loss or damage incurred by readers due to the content of the letters or any subsequent actions based on these opinions.

In submitting a letter to the editor, authors grant the newspaper the right to publish, edit, reproduce, or distribute the content in print, online, or in any other form.

We value the engagement of our readers and encourage open and constructive discussions on various topics. However, the Royal Examiner retains the right to reject any letter that contains offensive language, personal attacks, or violates any legal regulations. Thank you for being a part of our vibrant community of readers and contributors, and we look forward to receiving your diverse perspectives on matters of interest and importance.