Three Amendments on the November 3^rd Ballot

Three Proposed Constitutional Amendments

Virginia voters will decide three proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution on November 3.

The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports all three proposed amendments.

Below, you can learn what each amendment would change, why the League supports it, and important details about what the proposed amendment would—and would not—do.

Question 1 — Reproductive Freedom

What would change?

The amendment would add a fundamental right to reproductive freedom to the Virginia Constitution. It would protect decisions involving prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, abortion care, miscarriage management, and fertility care.

Why the League supports it

The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports the amendment as a constitutional protection for individuals to make reproductive health-care decisions without undue government interference. The materials being shared by the League emphasize personal medical decision-making and long-term protection of reproductive freedom.

In other words: the amendment would not create an unrestricted right to abortion throughout pregnancy. It specifically permits third-trimester regulation while preserving the medical exceptions stated above.

Read the official Virginia Department of Elections explanation of Question 1 →

Question 2 — Marriage Equality

What would change?

The amendment would remove the existing ban on same-sex marriage from the Virginia Constitution. It would affirm that two adults may marry regardless of sex, gender, or race, and require legally valid marriages to be recognized and treated equally under Virginia law.

Why the League supports it

The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports the amendment as a way to protect the freedom to marry and ensure equal treatment of legally valid marriages under Virginia law. The materials being shared by the League emphasize marriage equality and removing discriminatory language from the Virginia Constitution.

In other words: the amendment would remove the existing prohibition from Virginia's Constitution and replace it with an affirmative protection for lawful marriages between two adults, regardless of sex, gender, or race.

Read the official Virginia Department of Elections explanation of Question 2 →

Question 3 — Right to Vote

What would change?

The amendment would establish a fundamental right to vote in the Virginia Constitution. A person convicted of a felony would be unable to vote while incarcerated but would automatically regain voting rights upon release from incarceration, without having to apply to the Governor for restoration.

The amendment would also revise the Constitution's provision concerning mental capacity. Voting rights could be restricted only when a court has found that a person lacks the capacity to understand the act of voting.

Why the League supports it

The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports the amendment as a way to protect voting as a fundamental right and to provide automatic restoration of voting rights after a person is released from incarceration. The materials being shared by the League emphasize ending lifelong disenfranchisement and allowing people who have completed their incarceration to participate again in civic life.

In other words: a felony conviction would prevent a person from voting while incarcerated, but voting rights would return automatically upon release.

Read the official Virginia Department of Elections explanation of Question 3 →

Ballots and contests can vary by address. Use VOTE411, the League of Women Voters’ nonpartisan voter guide, to see what is on your ballot and learn more about the election.

Use VOTE411

Because voting details can vary by address and election type, always confirm your registration, polling place, and ballot information through the Virginia Department of Elections, your local registrar, and VOTE411.