On November 4, 2025, voters across Virginia Beach will decide how our city council members are elected by voting on the 2025 Referendum. By voting “yes,” voters indicate that they support the 10-1 system, and by voting “no,” they indicate that they support the 7-3-1 system.
“[The Referendum] is basically deciding how each of the districts in Virginia Beach is being represented,” said senior Nyles Deloatch.
Under the 7-3-1 system, Virginia Beach is divided into seven districts, with one council member per district. Residents vote for the representative for their district, as well as three council members elected at large. The mayor is elected at large as well, which is the same in both the 7-3-1 and 10-1 systems. The 7-3-1 system gives voters a say in five different positions: one council member for their district, three council members elected at large, and one mayor.
The 10-1 system, which was used in the 2022 and 2024 elections, splits Virginia Beach into ten districts, with one council member per district. Under the 10-1 system, voters are given a say in two positions: the council member for their district and the mayor.
“When you see the ‘Vote no to 10-1,’ think of a pyramid,” said AP European History teacher Jessica Fiedler, referencing a phrase seen on signs around Virginia Beach. “The seven district representatives are on the bottom, the three at large are higher up, and then the mayor is at the top. This seems ok, but if you look at the three at large, they could all be from the same district, so they hold more power. Where, if you look at the 10-1, it has all equal members, and the mayor.”
In the 7-3-1 system, whoever controls the three at-large seats holds more influence over the city as a whole. There is also an argument that the 7-3-1 gives each voter more say with 5 votes (1 for their district/3 at-large/1 for mayor).
By running at large, politicians have to campaign to the entire city, rather than just their neighborhood, which could favor candidates who have money and are already established. Additionally, the three council members elected at large could all be from the same district, resulting in one district having four seats on the council, giving them a disproportionate amount of influence. Large corporations can fund the at-large council members they want to be elected, which could sway the election in their favor because of the reach and publicity that money would give to a candidate.
The three largest organizations associated with the 2025 Referendum are Every Vote Counts VB, which supports the 7-3-1 system; Yes for Virginia Beach, which supports the 10-1 system; and Vote Yes On 10-1, which supports the 10-1 system.
“Most residents believe that people pushing to go back to the 7-3-1 system are oceanfront developers,” said AP Government and Politics teacher Jennifer Mechling, “They want to control the three at large seats.”
According to the Virginia Public Access Project, a nonpartisan organization that collects financial data related to Virginia politics, Every Vote Counts Virginia Beach has received over $400,000 at the time of writing. Half of this money comes from corporations or individuals associated with the reality and tourism industry. Yes for Virginia Beach has received $22,500 in donations, and Vote Yes on 10-1 has received $12,500 in donations at the time of writing. Both have received money from an organization named Vans for Commonwealth Inc, and Yes for Virginia Beach has received $10,000 from Rouse for Senate.
On the website for Every Vote Counts VB, they highlight the number and frequency of votes residents receive under the 7-3-1 system: “There are 10 seats on Virginia Beach City Council. Yet under the 10-1 voting system, you only get to vote for one – in every other election – even if there are issues that directly affect you like taxes, school curriculum and public safety.” Under the 7-3-1 system, council members have a term length of two years, resulting in frequent elections. Under the 10-1 system, council members have a term length of four years, with a staggered election cycle.
The 2025 Referendum will affect all Virginia Beach residents. Half of a representative democracy is the representation, which puts the way leaders are elected at the forefront of the democratic process. City council members hold a lot of influence in residents’ day-to-day lives, so it is important that voters pay attention to how they are being represented in their local government.
