The Overturn of Virginia Beach Federal Lawsuit: A Statement from Delegate Convirs-Fowler’s

By: Kurtis Alston

The Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals recently vacated the ruling that the Virginia Beach voting system violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and returned it to the lower court. HB2198 was cited as the reason the case should be overturned.

Delegate Kelly Convirs-Fowler released a statement about the court’s decision: “The City of Virginia Beach misrepresented HB 2198 and that it forbids the usage of the 7 district/3 at-large/1 Mayor, when in fact, the law still allows the 7 district/3 at-large/1 Mayor System, even with the passage and enactment of HB 2198. The Court of Appeal’s decision was not based on facts- it was 17 pages of regurgitated misinformation from the City. The lower court spent years on this case to properly hear the facts presented and make a ruling, yet the Court of Appeals gave Oral Arguments 40 minutes. The Dissenting Opinion put more time and accuracy in their 43 pages.” 

 The statement HB 2198 didn’t change any code section that would forbid the use of the 7 district/3 at-large Mayor System HB 2198 doesn’t forbid the city from using the system but only changes the election side of the district voting. Not the division of districts or the City’s ability to use different systems-districts, at large, or a combination of both systems as some may think it would be divided.