referendum | ARLnow.com

Arlington looks toward two congressional districts after local voters overwhelmingly back change

Published April 22, 2026 at 10:00AM

A voter fills out a ballot at a polling place on April 21, 2026 (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

Arlington stands to be divided into two congressional districts following last night’s statewide referendum, which narrowly passed with overwhelming support from local voters.

The “yes” vote rolled up about 80% of the vote in Arlington, based on preliminary vote totals released last night by the Virginia Department of Elections. This helped the measure squeak by statewide with about 51.5% of the vote — a majority of about 90,000 votes out of more than 3 million cast, according to preliminary figures.

News

About 37% of Arlington voters have cast ballots in redistricting referendum, so far

By Dan Egitto and The Associated Press

Published April 21, 2026 at 1:45PM

Voters fill out ballots at a polling place on April 21, 2026 (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

Roughly 37% Arlington voters have cast ballots in the statewide redistricting referendum as of this afternoon.

About 14% of voters visited a polling place as of 1:30 p.m., while 23% of local voters cast ballots early, according to the latest numbers from Arlington’s elections office.

News

Misleading anti-redistricting mailers prompt outcry from AG Jones, Virginia NAACP

By Dan Egitto

Published April 1, 2026 at 3:45PM

An anti-redistricting mailer sent to Arlington households (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A public messaging brawl over Virginia’s upcoming redistricting referendum has gotten even messier with new mailers prominently displaying out-of-context quotes from former President Barack Obama.

The front of the mailers, which some Arlington households received last week, urges residents to vote against redistricting and quotes Obama as saying, “Let voters decide, not politicians.” Obama actually supports redistricting, and his quote is taken from a pro-redistricting ad released a few weeks ago.

Schools

APS students will have off for April 21 redistricting referendum after split vote

By Scott McCaffrey

Published March 30, 2026 at 12:45PM

School Board member Kathleen Clark (screenshot via Arlington Public Schools)

Arlington Public Schools students will have off during a statewide redistricting referendum following a divided School Board vote last week.

In a 3-2 vote last Thursday, School Board members voted to give students the day off on Tuesday, April 21. The decision represented a split between a majority who saw logistical and safety concerns in keeping students in class, and those who did not wish to lose another instructional day and force parents to scramble for daycare options.

News

Referendum on Falls Church trash bills is unlikely but possible, officials say

By Scott McCaffrey

Published July 30, 2025 at 9:15AM

A recycling bin in Ballston (file photo)

Falls Church is considering changes to trash and recycling services, but city leaders say a voter referendum is unlikely.

The changes could decrease the financial burden on some property owners while increasing fees for single-family homeowners.

Schools

Despite favorable odds, supporters of county school bond work to win over voters

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 14, 2024 at 12:00PM

Cardinal Elementary School when it was under construction in 2021 (file photo)

Gerald Ford was in the White House the last time Arlington voters rejected a school bond in a local referendum.

But the two local residents tasked with making sure such ancient history doesn’t repeat itself are taking no chances as they make the case for passage of the 2024 school bond.

News

Arlington Democrats, Republicans polar opposites on referendums

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 8, 2024 at 4:30PM

'I Voted' stickers for Arlingtonians (staff photo)

Arlington’s Democrats and Republicans have squared off with diametrically opposing positions on the county’s package of bond referendums.

The Arlington County Democratic Committee earlier voted to support the five bonds on the Nov. 5 ballot, while the Arlington County Republican Committee more recently opted to oppose all five.

News

Arlington sells bonds to pay for many projects. But are they the right tool?

By Jo DeVoe

Published November 28, 2022 at 11:55AM

Election Day in Arlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

On Election Day, a majority of Arlingtonians approved six bond measures, worth $510 million, that will fund a variety of projects throughout the county.

The biggest expenses for the next 10 years include upgrades to its Water Pollution Control Plant, where local sewage goes, and funding to build a new Arlington Career Center campus.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published July 28, 2021 at 7:30AM

A cyclist heads south along the Mt. Vernon Trail near Gravelly Point (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

New Rosslyn Food Hall Nears Opening — “American Real Estate Partners is nearly ready to take the wraps off Assembly, the food hall atop the Rosslyn Metro station, a project that’s been more than two years in the works and was thrown a curveball by the Covid-19 pandemic. Assembly at Rosslyn City Center, a 29,000-square-foot space spread over two levels at 1700 N. Moore St., is slated to open this week for a sneak peak for tenants and next week to the wider public.” [Washington Business Journal]

Northam Announcement in Arlington Today — “Gov. Northam will announce a ‘budget proposal for federal American Rescue Plan funding’ at the Arlington County offices in Sequoia Plaza on Wednesday afternoon, per a press release.” [Twitter]

News

Arlington Residents to Vote on Four Bond Issues, Two Constitutional Amendments

By Tim Regan

Published November 2, 2016 at 4:30PM

Man casting his vote

When Arlington residents head to the ballot box on Nov. 8, they won’t just choose candidates for office. They’ll also be able to vote on four local bond issues and two state constitutional amendments.

Taxpayers will be asked to approve nearly $315.8 million in general bond obligations. Additionally, they’ll be able to vote for or against adding “right-to-work” and property tax exemption amendments to the Virginia constitution.

News

New School, Metro Lead $219 Million Bond Questions

By Ethan Rothstein

Published October 1, 2014 at 2:30PM

The big-ticket question in that referendum will be $105.7 million for Arlington Public Schools, $50.25 million of which will pay for either a new elementary school adjacent to Thomas Jefferson Middle School, or additions onto Randolph and Barcroft elementary schools.

The voting public can only vote to approve or reject to each of the four bond questions on the ballot — for public schools, Metro and transportation, parks and recreation funding and community infrastructure. Each question requests at least $13 million in funding, and all of the referenda roll multiple projects into the larger categories.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published July 31, 2014 at 9:15AM

Att’y General to Consider Streetcar Referendum — Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring (D) will be asked by Del. Patrick Hope (D) to weigh in on whether Arlington County has the legal authority to hold an advisory referendum on the Columbia Pike streetcar project. County officials say they don’t have the authority, and without General Assembly approval can only use a referendum for a general obligation bond issue. [InsideNova]

County Fair Adds Pentagon City Shuttle — The Arlington County Fair this year is adding a new shuttle option. In addition to shuttles from the Arlington Career Center, Ballston Metro and the I-66 parking garage, a shuttle will now run every 30 minutes from the Pentagon City Metro station. The fair runs from Aug. 6-10. [Arlington County Fair]