Washington, D.C. — Former U.S. president Barack Obama called on voters in the U.S. state of Virginia to support a ballot measure related to congressional district maps, saying the issue is connected to the integrity of democratic elections.
In a post shared on the social media platform X, Obama said free and fair elections are “the cornerstone of our democracy” and expressed concern about changes to congressional district boundaries in several states.
“Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. But right now, they’re under attack,” Obama wrote in the message.
He stated that several states controlled by the Republican Party had redrawn congressional maps in ways he said give them an electoral advantage in midterm elections.
“Several Republican-controlled states have redrawn their congressional maps to give themselves an unfair advantage in the midterm elections,” he wrote.
Obama also referred to an upcoming vote in Virginia that he said could address the issue of congressional district boundaries.
According to his message, early voting in Virginia began on March 6, while Election Day is scheduled for April 21. He encouraged residents of the state to vote in favor of the measure.
“Now Virginia has a chance to help level the playing field,” Obama wrote, urging voters in the Commonwealth to support the proposal.
Redistricting, the process of redrawing electoral district boundaries, takes place periodically in the United States, typically following the national census. The process has been the subject of political debate, with critics and supporters from different parties often disagreeing over how district maps are drawn.
Obama has frequently spoken publicly about voting rights and electoral participation since leaving office in 2017. He has also supported initiatives focused on voter engagement and democratic processes.
Further details about the specific ballot measure referenced in the post were not included in the message. Officials in Virginia manage election administration and voting procedures through state election authorities.
The post reflects ongoing political discussions in the United States around redistricting and electoral rules ahead of upcoming elections in several states.
