THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 29, 1995 TAG: 9510270222
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
During its discussion on redistricting the city's municipal voting districts last Tuesday, City Council was presented the following three sample questions for inclusion on the ballot in municipal elections next spring.
The General Assembly has mandated that Virginia Beach voters be asked their preference on moving from the current system, in which all voters vote for all 11 Council members, to a ward system, in which all voters could vote for the four at-large council members (including the mayor) but only District 1's residents could vote for the District 1 representative, only District 2's resident for the District 2 representative, etc.
Other proposed wording has since been presented to Council, to be made public in its discussion Nov. 7.
The floor is still open to suggestions.
Proposed question (1):
Should the method of electing those members of City Council who are elected from residence districts be amended from an at-large system where all of the voters of the city cast a ballot for each councilmember to a ward system where only those voters residing in a councilmember's district may cast a vote for tha councilmember?
Yes No
Proposed question (2):
Should the city council member elected from each residence district be elected by all qualified voters of the city (at-large) rather than only by the voters of that district (ward)?
Yes No
Proposed question (3):
Should those council members elected from residence districts (formerly boroughs) be elected by all of the qualified voters of the city at-large rather than being elected only by the qualified voters of a councilmember's district (a ward system)?
Yes No
KEYWORDS: REDISTRICTING WARD SYSTEM by CNB