Mount Vernon District Precinct Changes Proposed Based On Redistricting

BELLE HAVEN, VA — Changes or adjustments to 154 voting precincts in Fairfax County will be considered based on redistricting impacts.

In December, the Virginia Supreme Court approved redrawn state legislative and congressional districts that will take effect with the next elections. Those redrawn districts created split precincts in Fairfax County. Per Virginia law, precincts must be entirely in a magisterial district, state senate district, delegate district and congressional district. There are 54 precincts split by redistricting, and the county is proposing changes to another 100 to remedy split precincts.

The proposed changes will eliminate split precincts before the June 21 primary, if held. On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors set a public hearing on the precinct changes for March 8.

The county estimates 29,000 voters, or less than 4 percent of registered Fairfax County voters, would be impacted by the proposed changes. Approximately 87,000 voters impacted by redistricting would be kept at the same polling place under the proposal.

If the changes are adopted, a review from the Virginia attorney general will follow to determine if the changes follow the Virginia voting rights act. Fairfax County's Office of Elections would notify affected voters by mail. The county anticipates a one-time cost of $501,840 in 2022 and annual cost of $54,400 to implement the precinct adjustments.

There are several changes proposed in the Mount Vernon District:

The 601 Belle Haven and 602 Belleview precincts were divided and re-apportionated to give some voters a closer polling place at West Potomac High School. The proposal would maintain a large portion of 602 Belleview with 2,423 voters at the Belle View Elementary School polling place. A small northwestern part of 602 Belleview with 166 voters would be added to the 601 Belle Haven precinct with 2,466 existing voters with continued voting at West Potomac High School.

The 613 Westgate and 616 Gunston precincts had been split by redistricting. The northeastern part of 613 Westgate would be maintained with 3,581 voters at the Washington Mill Elementary School polling place. The southwestern part of 613 Westgate with no registered voters and eastern part of 616 Gunston with 1,690 voters would be merged at the Gunston Elementary School polling place. The northwestern part of 616 Gunston with 1,226 voters would be added to 617 Lorton with 2,909 existing voters. Voting for 617 Lorton would continue to be at Lorton Station Elementary School.

The 627 Woodlawn precinct was split into two and 619 Belvoir was split into three by redistricting. The county's proposal would maintain the eastern part of 627 Woodlawn with 1,890 voters as 627 Woodlawn #1 precinct with continued voting at Knights of Columbus #5998. The southeastern part of 619 Belvoir with no registered voters would be merged with the western part of 627 Woodlawn to create 627 Woodlawn #2 with continued voting at Knights of Columbus #5998. The northwestern part of 619 Belvoir with 1,668 voters would be added to 630 Army with 801 existing voters. The polling place would be relocated from Kingstowne Library to the Newington DVS. A 631 Pohick Creek precinct would be created from the southwestern part of 619 Belvoir with 2,457 voters with voting at Lorton Station Elementary School.

The 622 Lorton Station, 623 Alban and 628 Laurel Hill precincts were split by redistricting and 618 Newington was divided. The county proposes merging central 628 Laurel Hill with 3,490 voters and northwestern 622 Lorton Station with no voters to create 628 Laurel Hill #1. Southern 628 Laurel Hill would be maintained with 1,637 voters as 636 Laurel Hill #2 with continued voting at Laurel Hill Elementary School. The eastern part of 628 Laurel Hill with no voters would be added to 622 Lorton Station with voting at Lorton Station Elementary School. The northern 618 Newington with 2,387 voters would be maintained as 618 Newington #1 with continued voting at Newington Forest Elementary School. Southern 618 Newington with 3,182 voters, northern 628 Laurel Hill with 55 voters and southern 623 Alban would be merged into Newington #2 with 3,403 voters and voting at Newington Forest Elementary School. Northern 623 Alban would be maintained with 3,147 voters at Saratoga Elementary School.

The 629 South County precinct was split into three parts by redistricting. The county's proposal maintains eastern 629 South County with 2,501 voters with continued voting at South County High School. A 632 Halley #1 precinct would be created with 1,125 voters along with 632 Halley #2 with 338 voters remaining from the 629 South County precinct. Both precincts would have voting at Halley Elementary School.

The full precinct changes proposal is available in the Board of Supervisors agenda starting at page 76.