Daily Brew: November 3, 2025
Welcome to the Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, Brew.
By: Lara Bonatesta
Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- Virginia General Assembly approves proposed mid-decade redistricting amendment
- How to vote tomorrow
- What ballot measures will NYC voters be deciding on Nov. 4?
Virginia General Assembly approves proposed mid-decade redistricting amendment
The Virginia General Assembly is considering a constitutional amendment that would allow it to conduct mid-decade congressional redistricting through 2030. For voters to weigh in on the amendment before the next U.S. House primary elections, a special election would be required. The last time Virginia held a special election for a state ballot measure was in 1956.
The constitutional amendment, House Joint Resolution 6007 (HJ 6007), would permit the General Assembly to conduct congressional redistricting in between occurrences of the 10-year federal census if another state redraws its congressional districts first. Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina have already enacted new district maps. The amendment specifies that any such redistricting must occur between Jan. 1, 2025, and Oct. 31, 2030.
The resolution was introduced on Oct. 28. On Oct. 29, the Virginia House of Delegates approved HJ 6007 in a 51–42 vote, with six members not voting. The vote split along party lines, with Democrats in support and Republicans opposed. On Oct. 31, the state Senate approved it along party lines in a 21-16 vote, with three senators not voting.
In Virginia, the General Assembly must approve a constitutional amendment during two consecutive legislative sessions, with a legislative election taking place between those sessions. A simple majority vote is required in the House and Senate during each session.
All 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates are up for election on Nov. 4. Democrats hold a 51–48 majority, with one vacancy.
Currently, the Virginia Constitution requires congressional redistricting every ten years and establishes a 16-member bipartisan commission to draw new congressional maps. The proposed amendment would not abolish the commission. Voters approved Question 1, which created the commission, 65.7-34.3% in 2020.
Attorney General issues advisory opinion on proposed amendment
On Oct. 28, Attorney General Jason Miyares (R), who is running for re-election against Democratic nominee Jay Jones, issued an official advisory opinion that said HJ 6007 is unconstitutional.
Miyares said that because early voting for the Nov. 4, election had already begun, placing the amendment on the 2026 ballot would violate the constitutional requirement that it be referred for a second legislative vote “at [the General Assembly’s] first regular session held after the next general election of members of the House of Delegates.” Miyares also said the bill was introduced too late for the circuit court clerks' three-month publication period before the general election.
State law requires circuit court clerks to post constitutional amendments no later than three months before the "next ensuing general election of members of the House of Delegates."
Timing of an election for the proposed amendment
Virginia law mandates the timing and scheduling of special elections for ballot measures. The state constitution authorizes the General Assembly to set the date of a ballot measure election no earlier than 90 days after the measure’s approval. If the General Assembly acts on Jan. 14, the first day of the 2026 legislative session, the earliest possible election date would be April 14.
State law states that a special election cannot be held within 55 days of a general or primary election, nor on the same day as a primary election. Virginia’s 2026 primary is scheduled for June 16, making April 22 the latest possible date that would meet the 55-day requirement.
Considering both restrictions, a special election would need to be held between April 14 and April 22.
The filing deadline for congressional candidates in Virginia is April 2. If the constitutional amendment is approved and new maps are to take effect for the 2026 congressional elections, that deadline would need to be postponed.
New congressional maps
In addition to the proposed amendment, the General Assembly would also need to pass separate legislation to establish new congressional district maps.
Before voters created the redistricting commission in 2020, the governor could sign or veto a redistricting bill. Question 1 eliminated this requirement in 2020. HJR 6007 does not explicitly state whether or not the governor can sign or veto redistricting bills. The proposed constitutional amendment states that any “decennial reapportionment law, or reapportionment law modifying one or more congressional districts, shall take effect immediately[.]"
Click here to learn more about the proposed amendment and here to see our ongoing coverage of the redistricting effort in Virginia. Click here to learn more about redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections.
How to vote tomorrow
Tomorrow is Election Day for many people. To see what elections we're covering in your area, check out our Sample Ballot Lookup Tool. If you are eligible to vote in one of the states holding statewide elections tomorrow and you haven't voted yet, here's what you need to know.
California
Statewide ballot measure election: Proposition 50, Use of Legislative Congressional Redistricting Map Amendment (2025)
California mails ballots to all registered voters. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by Nov. 12. Ballots taken to a drop box must be returned by 8 p.m. PST. Drop box locations can be found here.
Eligible individuals may register to vote through conditional voter registration on Election Day. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. PST. Find your polling place here.
Colorado
Statewide ballot measure election: Proposition LL and Proposition MM
Colorado mails ballots to all registered voters. Mail-in ballots must be received by 7 p.m. MST on Election Day. Drop box locations can be found here.
Eligible individuals may register to vote on Election Day. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. MST. Find a voting location here.
Georgia
Statewide special election: Georgia Public Service Commission Districts 2 and 3
Voter registration closed on Oct. 6. All voters are required to show identification. View accepted forms of ID here. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST. Find your poll location here.
Absentee ballots must be received by 7 p.m. EST on Election Day. Voters should contact their county registrar for drop-off or drop box locations.
Maine
Statewide ballot measure election: Question 1, Require Voter Photo ID and Change Absentee Ballot and Drop Box Rules Initiative and Question 2, Extreme Risk Protection Orders to Restrict Firearms and Weapons Access Initiative
Eligible individuals may register to vote on Election Day. Poll opening times vary based on town population. All polls close at 8 p.m. EST. Find your voting location here.
Absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m. EST on Election Day.
New Jersey
Statewide elections: Governor and General Assembly
Voter registration closed on Oct. 14. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST. Find your polling location here.
Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by 8 p.m. EST on Election Day and received by Nov. 10. Drop box locations can be found here.
New York
Statewide ballot measure election: Proposal 1
Voter registration closed on Oct. 25. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST. Find your poll site here.
Absentee and early mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by Nov. 12. Ballots delivered in person to a county elections office or poll site must be received by 9 p.m. on Election Day.
Pennsylvania
Statewide elections: Pennsylvania Supreme Court and intermediate appellate courts
Voter registration closed on Oct. 20. First-time voters must provide ID at their polling place. View accepted forms of ID here. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST. Find your polling place here.
Mail-in and absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m. EST on Election Day. View a list of ballot return locations here.
Texas
Statewide ballot measure election: View all 17 proposed constitutional amendments here.
Voter registration closed on Oct. 6. All voters are required to show identification. View accepted forms of ID here. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. Find your polling place here.
Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day and received by 5 p.m. the day after Election Day.
Virginia
Statewide elections: Governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and House of Delegates
Eligible individuals may register to vote on Election Day and cast a provisional ballot. All voters must either show identification or sign a confirmation statement. View accepted forms of ID here. Polls are open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. EST. Find your polling place here.
Absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by Nov. 7. Contact your general registrar's office for drop box information.
Washington
Statewide ballot measure election: SJR 8201, Allow Investment of Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Fund in Stocks and Other Equities Amendment
Washington mails ballots to all registered voters. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Election Day. Ballots taken to a drop box must be returned by 8 p.m. PST. Drop box locations can be found here.
Eligible individuals may register to vote on Election Day. Poll opening times vary. Polls close at 8 p.m. PST. Find an election center here.
For more information about voting, click here. To view Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, click here.
What ballot measures will NYC voters be deciding on Nov. 4?
New York City voters will have one statewide measure and five local ballot measures on their ballot tomorrow.
The statewide measure, Proposal 1, is a constitutional amendment that the Legislature put on the ballot. Meanwhile, New York City voters will be deciding five local charter amendments that the New York City Charter Revision Commission put on the ballot. For more information about each ballot measure, including endorsements and supporting and opposing arguments, click the links below.
This measure would allow for 323 acres of land within the Adirondack Park Forest Preserve at the Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex to be used for international-standard Nordic skiing and biathlon trails and related infrastructure and facilities. In exchange, the state would be required to acquire and add at least 2,500 acres of new forest land of equal or greater value to the Adirondack Park Forest Preserve.
Question 2: Expedited Public Process for Affordable Housing Charter Amendment
This measure would add two new pathways in the City Charter to expedite the approval of affordable housing projects. First, it would enable publicly financed affordable housing to be approved by the Board of Standards and Appeals after review by the affected Community Board. Then, it would establish an expedited land use review process for zoning changes that deliver affordable housing in the 12 community districts with the lowest rate of affordable housing production.
Question 3: Expedited Land Use Review Procedure Charter Amendment
This measure would create an Expedited Land Use Review Procedure (ELURP) in the New York City Charter for modest amounts of additional housing, affordable housing, and infrastructure projects. A land use procedure is the formal process a city uses to review, approve, or deny proposed changes to how land can be used or developed for housing. Under the city’s current process, the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), all projects follow the same multi-month timeline regardless of size. ELURP would establish a shorter review while maintaining requirements for environmental review, historic district protections, and public participation.
Question 4: Affordable Housing Appeals Board Charter Amendment
This measure would create an Affordable Housing Appeals Board, consisting of the borough president, speaker of the city council, and mayor, which would have the power to review and reverse decisions by the city council that disapprove and modify land-use applications that directly facilitate the creation of affordable housing.
Question 5: Digital City Map Charter Amendment
This measure would require the city to consolidate and digitize the City Map and replace the existing, decentralized paper City Map.
Question 6: Move City Elections to Even-Numbered Years Charter Amendment
This measure would change city elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years, coinciding with federal presidential election years.Click here to learn more about New York City’s local ballot measures.
