VIRGINIA BEACH — A pending U.S. Supreme Court case that could eliminate race as a determining factor in how election districts are drawn would have major implications for Virginia Beach, experts say.

The case, Louisiana v. Callais, was heard by the court this month and has drawn the attention of players in the ongoing tug-of-war over Virginia Beach’s election system ahead of Tuesday’s referendum vote on the matter.

Virginia Beach currently has 10 single-member districts, including three districts where minority residents form a majority of the voting population. The referendum asks whether voters support that system (10-1) or one that reduces the number of district-based seats and adds three at-large seats (7-3-1).

The Supreme Court case challenges the constitutionality of Louisiana’s

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