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VOL. 71, NO. 10 OCT. 29, 2025 THE INDEPENDENT PRESS OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
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‘DEMOCRACY BACKWARDS’ Democrats scramble to redraw Virginia
From left to right: Democratic Senate Majority Scott Surovell, House of Delegates Speaker Don Scott and Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas.
voting maps amid Trump threats ANDREW KERLEY Executive Editor Democrats called the Virginia General Assembly back on Monday for a special session to redraw the state’s congressional districts and give themselves an upper edge in winning more seats in the United States House of Representatives. The effort mirrors those by legislators in California to offset additional seats Republicans may gain in the House as President Donald Trump pressures Texas and other Republican-leaning states to redistrict. Democrats will have to work through numerous votes and legal technicalities to successfully redistrict in Virginia ahead of the 2026 midterm congressional elections, which they are currently favored to win a majority in. Virginia has 11 congressional seats. Six are held by Democrats and five are held by Republicans, but nearly all of them could be turned blue if efforts are successful.
OPINIONS
Photos by Andrew Kerley. Graphic by Zach Montgomery.
WHAT IS ‘GERRYMANDERING’? Gerrymandering is the process of legislators redrawing maps to give their respective parties the upper hand. They do so by either redistributing voters they do not favor between multiple split districts, or packing other voters into one safe district. Both major parties have been guilty of the practice. Virginia has a history of gerrymandering dating back to the post-Civil War Reconstruction Era, when lawmakers used the practice to keep Black voters from gaining representation in Congress. The practice was effectively outlawed in 2020 when lawmakers amended the Virginia constitution to leave [...]
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One week left to vote!
Illustration by Marielle Taylor.
SAL ORLANDO Staff Writer
Laziness is ruining Halloween MOLLY CHRISTIANSON Contributing Writer Corsets are ruining Halloween costumes. There, I finally said it. I hate costumes that are just corsets with tiny skirts and stupid headbands. If I just described your costume, I am sure you look cute — however, it is a horrible Halloween costume. See LAZY COSTUMES on page 13
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See REDISTRICTING on page 2
Next Tuesday, Nov. 4, is Virginia’s statewide election. Voters will be able to decide the state’s next governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and House of Delegates members. Virginians must register to vote before casting a ballot. The deadline to register has passed, but voters can still register and vote up to Election Day using a provisional ballot. Virginians do not register by party. Polls will be open on election day from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and as long as voters are in line by 7 p.m., they can still cast their ballots. The Virginia Department of Elections has information on polling locations based on address. All voters must provide an acceptable form of identif ication — if a voter does not have any, they can sign an ID confirmation statement or vote using a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are offered to voters whose registrations or qualifications are questioned. Once a provisional ballot is used, a voter must deliver a copy of their identification to their local electoral board, or sign an ID confirmation statement by Nov. 7 at noon for the vote to count. The Virginia Department of Elections provides a list of acceptable identification,
including a current or expired driver’s license, military ID or utility bill. The deadline to request an absentee ballot was on Oct. 24. Absentee ballots must be returned to local registrar offices by 7 p.m. on election day. Early voting is available at local registration offices until Nov. 1. YOUR POLLING PLACE, ACCORDING TO YOUR DORM On election day, residents living on VCU’s campus at Brandt Hall, the Honors College, Rhoads Hall, West Grace North and West Grace South can vote at the VCU Student Commons. Students in Ackell Residence Center, Gladding Residence Center and Gladding Residence Center III can cast their ballot at Clark Springs Elementary School in the Randolph neighborhood off of South Harrison Street. Residents of Grace & Broad will vote at the Institute for Contemporary Art, and those in Broad & Belvidere can vote at George Washington Carver Elementary School off of West Leigh Street.
by how we vote. Sometimes it feels like voting doesn’t make a difference, but it does — even one vote can change an election.” Poovathukaran casted an early ballot, and said it is important to vote because democracy depends on it. “I think it’s important to vote because it changes the future of our nation and because it's a healthy way for citizens to voice their concerns and express their opinions,” Poovathukaran said. Fourth-year elementary education and teaching student Ryan Dutcher will be voting in person on Election Day. Dutcher said they understand how voting can be confusing, given the layout of government websites. “It is the most direct say that we have in the way that our country runs, the way that our city runs,” Dutcher said. “Especially right now with what’s going on on a national level, it’s incredibly important that we elect state and local representatives that have our best interests at heart.”
Election Day Nov. 4
WHY VOTE? “The government is based off of our votes,” first-year business student Nathan Poovathukaran said. “We decide our future
Graphics by Quinn Lysek and Zach Montgomery.
VCU only cares about men’s basketball
Puppeteers prepare for 20th Richmond Halloween Parade
Fighting food deserts with mutual aid
see SPORTS page 4
see SPECTRUM page 5
see FEATURES page 10