                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

AT-LARGE AND DISTRICT ELECTIONS; REAPPORTIONMENT AND REDISTRICTING OF DISTRICTS
OR WARDS; LIMITS (§ 24.2-304.1)

A. Except as otherwise specifically limited by general law or special act, the
governing body of each county, city, or town may provide by ordinance for the
election of its members on any of the following bases: (i) at large from the
county, city, or town; (ii) from single-member or multi-member districts or
wards, or any combination thereof; or (iii) from any combination of at-large,
single-member, and multi-member districts or wards. A change in the basis for
electing the members of the governing body shall not constitute a change in the
form of county government.

B. If the members are elected from districts or wards and other than entirely at
large from the locality, the districts or wards shall be composed of contiguous
and compact territory and shall be so constituted as to give, as nearly as is
practicable, representation in proportion to the population of the district or
ward. In 1971 and every 10 years thereafter, the governing body of each such
locality shall reapportion the representation among the districts or wards,
including, if the governing body deems it appropriate, increasing or diminishing
the number of such districts or wards, in order to give, as nearly as is
practicable, representation on the basis of population.

C. For the purposes of redistricting and reapportioning representation in 2021
and every 10 years thereafter, the governing body of a county, city, or town
shall use the most recent decennial population figures for such county, city, or
town from the United States Bureau of the Census, as adjusted by the Division of
Legislative Services pursuant to &#xA7; 24.2-314. The census data for these
redistricting and apportionment purposes will not include any population figure
that is not allocated to specific census blocks within the Commonwealth, even
though that population may have been included in the apportionment population
figures of the Commonwealth for the purpose of allocating United States House of
Representatives seats among the states.

D. Notwithstanding any other provision of general law or special act, the
governing body of a county, city, or town shall not reapportion the
representation in the governing body at any time other than that required
following the decennial census, except as (i) provided by law upon a change in
the boundaries of the county, city, or town that results in an increase or
decrease in the population of the county, city, or town of more than one
percent, (ii) the result of a court order, (iii) the result of a change in the
form of government, or (iv) the result of an increase or decrease in the number
of districts or wards other than at-large districts or wards. The foregoing
provisions notwithstanding, the governing body subsequent to the decennial
redistricting may adjust district or ward boundaries in order that the
boundaries might coincide with state legislative or congressional district
boundaries; however, no adjustment shall affect more than five percent of the
population of a ward or district or 250 persons, whichever is lesser. If
districts created by a reapportionment enacted subsequent to a decennial
reapportionment are invalid under the provisions of this subsection, the
immediately preexisting districts shall remain in force and effect until validly
reapportioned in accordance with law.

HISTORY: 1995, c. 249; 2000, c. 884; 2001, Sp. Sess. I, c. 6; 2002, c. 127;
2012, c. 357; 2013, c. 483; 2020, cc. 1229, 1265.