Virginia Democrats pass constitutional amendments protecting abortion, felon voting rights and gay marriage

Virginia requires proposed constitutional amendments to be passed in two successive General Assembly conventions, with an election in between them.

Virginia’s Democratic-led Senate passed constitutional amendments on Tuesday addressing abortion rights, voting rights, and repealing a now-defunct ban on same-sex marriage. The measures, passed largely along party lines, signal key issues for the upcoming statewide elections in November, when all 100 seats in the House of Delegates will be on the ballot.

The abortion amendment, sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Boysko, aims to enshrine abortion in the state constitution. Democrats argued the move would protect freedoms and empower citizens. However, Republicans criticized the amendment for not including language requiring parental consent for minors, framing it as an attack on parental rights.

The Senate also passed a voting rights amendment, championed by Democratic Sen. Mamie Locke, which would revise the process for restoring voting rights to people convicted of felonies. Republicans proposed tying voting rights restoration to the full payment of restitution and barring those convicted of violent felonies from voting without gubernatorial approval. Locke rejected these suggestions, emphasizing that voting is a fundamental right that should not be linked to past actions.

Additionally, the Senate approved a resolution to repeal Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage. Sponsored by Sen. Adam Ebbin, the first openly gay lawmaker in the state legislature, the resolution passed with bipartisan support, 24-15.

For constitutional amendments to take effect, they must be passed by lawmakers in two consecutive sessions separated by an election and then approved in a public referendum. The proposed measures reflect key points of contention as both parties prepare for critical elections later this year.