VIRGINIA BEACH — Windsor Oaks resident Ken Phillips realized while in the voting booth that he needed more information on the election-related ballot referendum question before filling in the oval next to “yes” or “no.”
“I didn’t understand it too much,” said the 69-year-old, who cast his ballot Friday on the first day of early voting.
So he did a quick search on his phone and found a page about it on the city’s website.
Phillips then decided to vote “yes” because he doesn’t want the boundaries of Virginia Beach’s existing 10 districts to change.
“I’m hoping to maybe keep it the same way it is,” he said.
The referendum question centers on how residents want to be represented, either through a district-based system with only the mayor elected at large, referred to as the 10-1, or a seven-district structure with three seats and the mayor elected at-large and seven district-based seats, referred to as the 7-3-1. The 10-1 system was used in the 2022 and 2024 City Council elections.
Several residents who voted early also scrambled for information about the referendum question in the minutes before marking the ballot paper.
City communications officials expected the issue would require some explanation for voters to make an informed decision and launched an educational campaign earlier this year. Meanwhile three advocacy groups have formed to share information and persuade residents how to vote. Signs sponsored by some groups have popped up across the city and advertisements are arriving by mail. Still, some voters feel out of the loop.
“I want to know more,” said Fouad Moussa, 53, of the Red Mill area.
Fouad K Moussa of Virginia Beach as he prepares to vote at Voter Registration and Elections Office Friday, Sept.19, 2025 on the first day of early voting in Virginia Beach. (Bill Tiernan/For The Virginian-Pilot)
Moussa had seen signs about the referendum near his neighborhood and knew the question was related to the city’s voting system. But he wanted more details and approached the Republican Party of Virginia’s table outside before casting his vote.
The question asks: “Should the method of city council elections set forth in the Virginia Beach City Charter be changed from a modified 7-3-1 system to a 10-1 system?” Voting “yes” supports keeping the 10-1 system in place, while voting “no” rejects that 10-1 system.
The ballot question is a non-binding advisory referendum, meaning it will not directly lead to a change in law but will be used by city officials to gauge public opinion.
Some residents who brushed up on the referendum question before arriving at the Voter Registration & Election Office knew exactly how they would vote on it.
Christian Lonzon, 44, of Hillcrest Farms in the Princess Anne area, compared the two sides of the issue on the internet after he saw signs touting “yes” and “no” votes.
Christian Lonzon of Virginia Beach after casting his vote at the Voter Registration and Elections Office Friday, Sept.19,2025 on the first day of early voting in Virginia Beach. (Bill Tiernan/For The Virginian-Pilot)
“I want to be an informed voter,” Lonzon said, adding that he decided to vote “no” because he’s in favor of having three at-large representatives on the City Council.
Representatives from opposing political parties offered perspectives on the referendum question to residents as they approached the election office.
“To me, it’s simple math,” said Carol Hickman of the Republican Party of Virginia Beach. “If I have five sets of eyes looking at the whole big picture, that’s a whole lot better than one.”
Cheryl Davidson of the Virginia Beach Democrats handed out a voter guide postcard with the words, “Vote yes on the 10-1 referendum” printed above the party’s slate of endorsed candidates.
J.R. Moore, who lives in Town Center, voted yes after accepting the Democrats’ voter guide.
“I’m aligning with those who gave me a postcard,” said Moore, 63.
Cheryl James, 55, a Princess Anne area resident, voted yes after weighing the issue from news reports.
“For me, it’s fair,” she said. “Let every man stand for his own in his own district.”
Indian Lakes residents Sharon and Randy Palmer, both 67, each voted “no” on the referendum question after reading a Facebook post endorsing a 7-3-1 system by Tim Anderson, a lawyer who is running for House of Delegates District 97.
“I want to have more of a say,” said Sharon Palmer.
“You can’t do that with only one vote,” said her husband.
A total of 934 people voted Friday. In 2024, when the presidential race was on the ballot, 1,471 people voted on the first day of early voting, according to Christine Lewis, Virginia Beach’s director of elections.
The first day of early voting in Virginia Beach at the Voter Registration and Elections Office Friday, Sept.19,2025. (Bill Tiernan/For The Virginian-Pilot)
Leading up to Election Day on Nov. 4, the city is providing literature about the referendum at public library branches and recreation centers.
Early voting continues at Building 14 at the Municipal Center this week. More locations will open at the end of October. Sample Virginia Beach ballots by House districts are available for voters to view at voter.virginiabeach.gov/elections/sample-ballot-guide.
Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com
