Subcommittee advances bill to exclude civilly committed residents from local redistricting counts

Delegate Edward Ware introduced HB 59, saying the Virginia Center for Behavioral Rehabilitation (VCBR) houses roughly 411 residents and that, if counted at the facility, they could overwhelm turnout totals in nearby small towns. "Overnight, this institution would become easily the largest precinct in this small town," Ware said, arguing the bill would return those residents to their prior domiciles for redistricting purposes.

The subcommittee’s counsel clarified the bill’s scope: it addresses only redistricting population allocation and does not alter how or where people vote. "The bill as drafted deals only with redistricting," counsel said, adding that voting domicile and residence rules would continue to determine where an individual may cast a ballot.

Members asked about administrative burdens and legal risk. Counsel compared the proposal to earlier efforts to address "prison gerrymandering," saying the mechanics are similar but the possibility that the population could vote at the facility creates additional nuances. Committee members also asked whether registrars or local officials would require added resources to implement the change.

After discussion the subcommittee voted to report the bill out, recorded 8–0. No formal amendments were adopted during the hearing.

The bill next proceeds to the full committee for consideration.