Virginia Senate passes 4 constitutional amendments for voter referendum

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Democrat-controlled Senate on Friday passed all four constitutional amendments that can now be placed before voters in a statewide referendum later this year.

The four constitutional amendments previously advanced out of the Virginia House of Delegates on Wednesday, Jan. 14, following what was considered hours of public testimony. Two days later, on Friday, Jan. 16, the Virginia Senate passed each of them.

The amendments address abortion access, redistricting, same-sex marriage and the restoration of voting and civil rights for felons -- issues that will appear on voters' ballots later this year.

Senate Democrats argued that some of these amendments are necessary to defend Virginians' rights from changes on the federal level from the Trump administration, which includes the amendment to enshrine reproductive rights in the Virginia Constitution.

Democrats reaffirmed the argument made on Wednesday -- that the abortion amendment is necessary to protect access in the commonwealth, as it currently has the least restrictive abortion laws in the South.

Republican leaders, who opposed the abortion amendment, argued on Friday that the proposed amendment infringes on parental rights.

This amendment was advanced out of the House and passed through the Democrat-controlled Senate. Lawmakers previously clashed over House Joint Resolution 4, which would allow the General Assembly to redraw congressional districts before the 2026 congressional elections. 

PREVIOUS: Democrats in the Virginia Senate approve redistricting amendment

The amendment was proposed in response to several other states redrawing their maps to benefit Republicans.

"I want to be clear. Some are going to say this is partisan gamesmanship or retaliation," said Sen. Scott Surovell, the Senate majority leader. "This isn't about payback. It's about restoring and preserving balance to our system. When other states manipulate their maps to gain an unfair advantage … they don’t just harm their own voters, they also harm Virginia's ability to have its fair representation in Congress.”

Virginia Democrats told 8News that the redistricting amendment is likely to go before voters in April, while the remaining amendments are expected to appear on the ballot in November.