Virginia moves primary election to August 4

A planned mid-Census Congressional redistricting in Virginia may or may not be held on April 21 depending on the final outcome of a legal challenge, but the General Assembly has moved the primary election to August 4 in any case.

Governor Abigail Spanberger signed HB29 into law on February 20 which moves the primary from June 16, a one-time change only intended for this year. That legislation amends the budget for the current fiscal year and includes $5 million for localities to administer the special election.

“The primary date change is not contingent on the passage of the scheduled April 21, 2026 referendum, nor whether the referendum is held,” reads an information release sent out by the Virginia Department of Elections this afternoon.

Early voting for the primary will begin on June 19. The deadline to register to vote in the primary is July 24 but same-day registration can continue with provisional voting beginning on July 25.

Those who want to run for the Congressional races now have until May 26 to complete paperwork if they are pursuing a party nomination or August 4 if they want to run as an independent.

Tazewell County Judge Jack Hurley Jr. has twice granted a preliminary injunction to prevent the April 21 election from proceeding, though the first has been stayed by the Virginia Supreme Court pending their own hearings set to take place after the election.

The second case stems from a suit filed by the Republican National Committee calling the wording of the ballot in question. That injunction is in place through March 18, which would delay the beginning of early voting for the special election Learn more in a recent story. This case has also been appealed.

Meanwhile. the City of Lynchburg is seeking a declaratory judgment how to proceed, as reported by Cardinal News.

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