Title
Ordinance to Amend and Re-Enact Chapter 12 of the City Code of the City of Hampton, Virginia to Amend an Existing Precinct, Establish a New Precinct, and Establish a New Polling Place for the New Precinct
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
During City Council’s February 26, 2025 meeting, the City Attorney and General Registrar presented the Hampton Electoral Board’s recommendations to modify certain precinct boundaries and relocate the East Hampton precinct polling place from Phoebus High School to the Hampton University Convocation Center. During City Council’s March 26, 2025 meeting, a question-and-answer session with the Electoral Board took place. Ultimately, City Council’s feedback was to pursue the creation of a new Hampton University precinct and necessary changes related to that action - including the identification of a polling place for the new precinct and modifications to the existing East Hampton precinct in order to create the new precinct.
The proposed ordinance amendments before City Council are in response to this feedback. A new Hampton University precinct will be created from the southwestern portion of the existing East Hampton precinct. Generally, this area - west of Interstate 64 - includes the VA Medical Center, Hampton University campus, and the immediate surrounding area. The existing East Hampton precinct has 4,260 registered voters. Under the amendments, the new Hampton University precinct would have 2,048 registered voters and the modified East Hampton precinct would have 2,212 registered voters. The proposed polling place location for the new Hampton University precinct is the Hampton University Convocation Center at 700 Emancipation Drive, which is located within the precinct and is an acceptable educational facility. A polling place license agreement regarding the City’s use of the facility for this purpose has been executed by Hampton University and is ready for the City Manager's signature. There is no change to the polling place location for the East Hampton precinct, it remains at Phoebus High School.
The proposed ordinance amendments will ease voter access by reducing driving time to the designated polling place, as well as the amount of time voters are waiting in line on election day. The proposed changes will also improve election administration for election officials.
Virginia Code includes various requirements related to changes of this nature. The proposed ordinance amendments comply with these requirements. For example:
• Both the proposed Hampton University precinct and modified East Hampton precinct have more than 500 but less than 5,000 registered voters; do not split Congressional or General Assembly districts; and have clearly defined and clearly observable boundaries;
• The proposed polling place location for the Hampton University precinct is within the precinct and is an acceptable educational facility; and
• Proper notice has been given and consideration of an ordinance to adopt these changes is before City Council.
Should City Council adopt the proposed ordinance amendments, Virginia Code sets forth additional steps that must be completed in order to implement the changes. These steps include receipt of a certificate of no objection from the Virginia Office of the Attorney General for the polling place change, submission of maps and related information to certain entities, and notice to affected voters.
Discussion:
See Purpose/Background above.
Impact:
See Purpose/Background above.
Recommendation:
Rec
Hold the public hearing and adopt the ordinance with an effective date based on issuance of a certificate of no objection by the Virginia Office of the Attorney General.
Body
WHEREAS, Virginia Code §§ 15.2-1427 and 15.2-1433 enable a local governing body to adopt, amend, and codify ordinances or portions thereof;
WHEREAS, Virginia Code §§ 24.2-305, 24.2-306, 24.2-307, 24.2-310, and 24.2-310.1 set forth the requirements for establishing precincts and polling places within the City;
WHEREAS, the proposed ordinance amendments will amend the existing East Hampton precinct boundaries and create a new precinct identified as the Hampton University precinct with a polling place at the Hampton University Convocation Center;
WHEREAS, the Hampton University Convocation Center is located within the new precinct and provides suitable facilities to serve as a polling place, and Hampton University has expressed a willingness to serve as the new polling place and execute a polling place license agreement with the City;
WHEREAS, notice of the proposed ordinance amendments has been published in a newspaper having general circulation in the precinct once a week for two successive weeks;
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to amend and update City Code for the foregoing reasons;
WHEREAS, the full text of the proposed ordinance amendments and associated maps were available for public inspection in the Hampton Voter Registrar’s Office, 101 Kings Way, Hampton, VA 23669 and on the Voter Registrar’s Office website at: <https://www.hampton.gov/263/Voter-Registrar>;
WHEREAS, after proper advertisement was made as required by law, a public hearing was conducted on December 10, 2025 in Council Chambers, Eighth Floor, City Hall, 22 Lincoln Street, Hampton, VA 23669; and
WHEREAS, if the proposed ordinance amendments are adopted, prior to implementation, the City shall, pursuant to Virginia Code § 24.2-129(D), submit the proposed polling place change to the Virginia Office of the Attorney General to request the issuance of a certificate of no objection.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia that the City Code of the City of Hampton, Virginia is hereby amended and this ordinance is hereby enacted as follows:
1. Section 12-49 of the City Code of the City of Hampton, Virginia be amended to read as follows and Sections 12-51 and 12-86 be adopted to read as follows:
Sec. 12-49. - East Hampton precinct.
The East Hampton precinct shall be composed of all the territory situate within the following described boundaries: Commencing at the point of intersection of the waters of the Hampton River and East Mercury BoulevardRoads and the waters of the Johns Creek; meandering thence in a westerly direction along the waters of Hampton Roads to the point of intersection with the Hampton River; meandering thence in a northerly direction along the water of the Hampton River to the point of intersection with East Mercury Boulevard; running thence in a southeasterly direction along the centerline of East Mercury Boulevard to the point of intersection with North Mallory Street; running thence in a southwesterly direction along the centerline of North Mallory Street to the point of intersection with South Mallory Street; running thence in a southwesterly direction along the centerline of South Mallory Street to the intersection of Interstate 64, running thence in a northerly direction along the centerline of Interstate 64 to the intersection of the waters of an unnamed branch of the Hampton River; meandering thence in a westerly and southwesterly direction along the waters of the unnamed branch of the Hampton River to its point of intersection with the waters of the Hampton River Johns Creek, meandering thence in a northerly direction along the waters of the Hampton River to the point of intersection with East Mercury Boulevard, the point or place of beginning.
. . . .
Sec. 12-51. - Hampton University precinct.
The Hampton University precinct shall be composed of all the territory situate within the following described boundaries: Commencing at the point of intersection of the waters of Hampton Roads and the waters of Johns Creek; meandering thence in a northwesterly direction along the waters of Hampton Roads to the point of intersection with the Hampton River; meandering thence in a northerly direction along the waters of the Hampton River, crossing Settlers Landing Road bridge, to the point of intersection with the waters of an unnamed branch of the Hampton River; meandering thence in an easterly and northeasterly direction along the waters of the unnamed branch of the Hampton River to the intersection of Interstate 64; running thence in a southerly direction along the centerline of Interstate 64 to the intersection of South Mallory Street; running thence in a southwesterly direction along the centerline of South Mallory Street to the point of intersection with the waters of Johns Creek, meandering thence in a southwesterly direction along the waters of Johns Creek to its intersection with the waters of Hampton Roads, the point or place of beginning.
Sec. 12-512. - 12-55. - Reserved.
. . . .
Sec. 12-86. - Hampton University precinct.
The polling place in the Hampton University Precinct shall be located at Hampton University Convocation Center, 700 Emancipation Drive.
Sec. 12-867. - 12-90. - Reserved.
2. Except as amended herein, all City Code provisions remain in effect.
3. This ordinance shall become effective upon the issuance of a certificate of no objection by the Virginia Office of the Attorney General, pursuant to Virginia Code § 24.2-129(D).