Democratic lawmakers in Virginia have advanced three constitutional amendments to restore voting rights, protect reproductive freedoms and enshrine marriage equality in the state’s highest governing document.
The measures passed within Virginia’s House of Delegates last week, mainly along partisan lines, with all Democrats in the chamber voting in support of them and most of the Republican caucus voting against. The amendments passed in the Senate on Tuesday, again mostly along party lines.
To become an amendment, a measure must pass by a majority vote of both houses within the Virginia General Assembly, after which a round of new legislative elections must take place. After that election process happens, the measure must be passed again, which places it on a statewide ballot for voters to give their up-or-down approval on. If voters vote in favor of the measure, it becomes codified in the state constitution.
Protecting Reproductive Rights
The first measure proposed, HJ1, would assert a fundamental right to reproductive rights, and would ease restrictions on abortion care.
“Every individual has the fundamental right to reproductive freedom and that the right to make and effectuate one’s own decisions about all matters related to one’s pregnancy cannot be denied, burdened, or otherwise infringed upon by the Commonwealth,” a summary of the measure reads.
Restoring Voting Rights
HJ2 is an amendment to restore voting rights to people formerly convicted of and incarcerated for a felony. Currently, Virginia law does not automatically restore such individuals of those rights, and to have them given back, they must petition the governor.
“A person who has been convicted of a felony shall…be invested with all political rights, including the right to vote,” once released from incarceration, a summary of the amendment explains.
Enshrining Marriage Equality
HJ9, the only measure to receive some Republican support, would remove a previously passed amendment that denies same-sex couples of the right to marry in the state.
The new measure would do more than just remove that older amendment from the state constitution — it would also protect marriage equality, enshrining the right within the document.
