Judge Rules Virginia Beach Election System Violates Voting Rights Act Details A federal judge ruled the election system in Virginia Beach is illegal under the Voting Rights Act. Virginia Beach residents Latasha Holloway and George Allen, who are both Black, filed a lawsuit in 2017, arguing that the city’s election process dilutes minority votes. Seven of the city’s 11 council members represent, and must live in, specific districts, but voters throughout the city get to vote in all of these races. U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson said Virginia Beach cannot use this system in any future elections. In the 135-page order, he said the city cannot adopt any other policies or procedures that dilute minority participation in the electoral process.