Please pass SB681. I am a Virginia Beach voter. We need to get final resolution on this charter change. A majority of Virginia Beach voters have said they prefer having ten districts with each electing their own council member. There is not reason to drag this charter change out any longer. I urge you to report SB681 and vote for its passage.

I urge the Committee to report Senate Bill 681, which updates the charter of the City of Virginia Beach to reflect our existing 10-1 district election system that we have used since 2022. In a recent referendum in November 2025, voters backed a change in the charter to the existing 10-1 election system by a solid majority. In 2023, the University of Virginia conducted a comprehensive survey that demonstrated that an overwhelming majority of Virginia Beach citizens of all demographics, political beliefs, and geographic areas of the city support the 10-1 system. On August 15, 2023, after further public input, the VB City Council passed an ordinance formally adopting the existing 10-1 election system. In 2024, both the House of Delegates and the state Senate passed the charter change bill formalizing the 10-1 system by the required 2/3 majority, but the bill was vetoed. Please correct this longstanding injustice and pass this bill, taking the final steps to update our city charter to reflect the often-expressed, clear views of the majority of the citizens of Virginia Beach. Thank you.

I urge the Committee to report Senate Bill 681, which updates the charter of the City of Virginia Beach to reflect our existing 10-1 district election system that we have used since 2022. In a recent referendum in November 2025, voters backed a change in the charter to the existing 10-1 election system by a solid majority. In 2023, the University of Virginia conducted a comprehensive survey that demonstrated that an overwhelming majority of Virginia Beach citizens of all demographics, political beliefs, and geographic areas of the city support the 10-1 system. On August 15, 2023, after further public input, the VB City Council passed an ordinance formally adopting the existing 10-1 election system. In 2024, both the House of Delegates and the state Senate passed the charter change bill formalizing the 10-1 system by the required 2/3 majority, but the bill was vetoed. Please correct this longstanding injustice and pass this bill, taking the final steps to update our city charter to reflect the often-expressed, clear views of the majority of the citizens of Virginia Beach. Thank you.

To the members of the Committee: The League of Women Voters supports SB 681. In a 2025 election, the voters of Virginia Beach, by a solid majority, approved updating the City Charter to reflect the existing 10-1 district system. The single district system ensures fair, equal, and accountable representation for all citizens in all communities of the City of Virginia Beach, and has been successfully used since 2022. The League recommends that the General Assembly pass SB 681 to update the Virginia Beach City Charter without further delay. The League also supports the related bill SB51. Respectfully submitted, Arina van Breda on behalf of Joan Porte, President, LWV-VA