Bill > HB1483

This bill mandates that any local government in Virginia with a population of 400,000 or greater must elect its governing body members from individual single-member districts for municipal elections held after July 1, 2026, overriding any existing local charters or other laws that might allow for at-large elections, which means all voters in the locality elect all members of the governing body. A single-member district is a specific geographic area within the locality from which one representative is elected, ensuring that each member of the governing body represents a defined segment of the population. However, the presiding officer of the governing body may still be elected at large. This change is intended to ensure more localized representation in densely populated areas.