In Virginia, the Democrat-led Senate recently passed constitutional amendments concerning abortion and voting rights, sparking intense debate ahead of November’s statewide elections.
The Senate passed resolutions on these amendments, alongside a repeal of the ban on same-sex marriage, with party-line votes. These measures were already approved by the Democratic-led House of Delegates.
The abortion amendment, sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Boysko, aims to enshrine abortion rights in Virginia’s constitution, ensuring they cannot be easily overturned. Republican lawmakers criticized the amendment for not including explicit parental consent for minors seeking abortions, with Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle arguing that parental involvement should be prioritized.
Democratic Sen. Barbara Favola countered, highlighting situations where minors might face harm or lack support from their families, such as cases of abuse.
The voting rights amendment, led by Sen. Mamie Locke, seeks to revise the restoration process for felons’ voting rights, allowing those who’ve served their time to regain this fundamental right. Republican Sen. Ryan McDougle proposed conditions that would require individuals to pay restitution to victims before regaining voting rights and exclude those convicted of violent felonies unless pardoned by the governor. Locke opposed these proposals, emphasizing the importance of the right to vote once someone has completed their sentence.
These constitutional amendments must pass again in a future session before going to a public referendum. The issue of abortion and voting rights will be central in the upcoming elections, as both parties seek to energize their base.