City of Hampton - File #: 25-0343

• File #: 25-0343
• Version: 1
• Name: Proposed Amendments for Hampton University precinct and polling place
• Type: Ordinance-Coded
• Status: Agenda Ready
• File created: 11/24/2025
• In control: City Council Legislative Session
• On agenda: 12/10/2025
• 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
• Code sections: Code of Virginia 24.2-129 - Covered practices; actions required prior to enactment or administration, Code of Virginia 24.2-305 - Composition of election districts and precincts, Code of Virginia 24.2-306 - Changes not to be enacted within 60 days of general election; notice requirements, Code of Virginia 24.2-307 - Requirements for county and city precincts, Code of Virginia 24.2-310 - Requirements for polling places, Code of Virginia 24.2-310.1 - Polling places; additional requirement.
• Related files: 25-0067, 25-0094

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 poll...