The April 21st amendment: a plan that works only if rural Virginia doesn’t show up.

 

The Lone Island: Why One Voice Can't Carry the Water


By Jerry Buchanan


  • I may live in Indiana now, but my heart is still in Lee County. I grew up in those mountains, and I know that when Southwest Virginia gets ignored by Richmond, it’s usually because the math is stacked against us. But what’s happening with the April 21st redistricting amendment isn't just a political shift—it’s a structural erasure of our home.

    Lee County will still be part of the "Fighting Ninth," but if this amendment passes, that district becomes a lone island.

    Right now, we aren't alone. We have allies in the 5th and 6th Districts—representatives who answer to the farmers of the Shenandoah Valley and the families of the Piedmont. Together, these districts form a rural coalition that stands as a block on issues that matter to us: coal, timber, and rural healthcare.

    But the new "10-to-1" map (House Bill 29) changes everything. It "cracks" the 5th and 6th Districts, stretching them into high-population city hubs like Charlottesville, Roanoke, and Blacksburg. By drowning out rural voters with urban majorities, the plan ensures those seats will no longer belong to someone who understands our way of life. They are effectively "packing" all the rural influence into the Ninth while diluting every other rural voice across the state.

    The numbers show that when we know the truth, we don't want this. Latest polling from late March shows a massive shift. When the ballot simply asks about "restoring fairness," 45% of people lean toward "Yes." But the moment voters are told the specifics—that the plan creates a 10-to-1 map designed to favor one party in 10 out of 11 districts—opposition jumps to 52%. As more rural voters realize the "10-to-1" math, support for the amendment has plummeted from 51% in January to just 44% today.

    Here is the good news: Rural Virginia is currently winning the "ground war." The "Yes" side is banking on a "ghost" election. They are counting on us staying home while a few people in the cities see the word "fairness" and click "Yes" without knowing the consequences. But early voting data shows that rural areas are actually outperforming the cities in turnout right now.

    We are the anchor. If Lee County turns out its voters, we become the weight that keeps the 5th and 6th Districts from being dismantled. We aren't just voting for ourselves—we are voting to keep a seat at the table for the entire rural Commonwealth.

    In a vote as consequential as this, a single rural representative simply cannot carry the water. Don't let them decide the outcome before the debate even begins. Vote NO on April 21st.

    Voting in Lee County (What You Need to Know)

    • Early In-Person Voting: Ongoing now through Saturday, April 18th.

    • Where: Lee County Registrar’s Office, 133 School Board Place, Jonesville, VA.

    • Regular Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM.

    • Final Saturday: The office is open Saturday, April 18th from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

    • Election Day: Tuesday, April 21st. Polls are open 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM.

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