Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Spanberger Signs Measures Putting Marriage, Abortion, Voting Rights and Redistricting Amendments on Virginia Ballot

Voters now face an April special election on redistricting with separate November referendums on rights measures.

Overview

  • Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed bills sending four constitutional amendments to voters, scheduling the redistricting question for April 21 and the other measures for Nov. 3.
  • The finalized marriage referendum (HB 612) asks voters to remove the same-sex marriage ban, affirm that two adults may marry regardless of sex, gender, or race, and require equal treatment of all legally valid marriages.
  • Democrats say their proposed congressional map could yield a 10–1 advantage for their party, while Republicans argue the mid-decade change defies the 2020 voter-approved redistricting commission.
  • The 2006 Marshall–Newman Amendment remains in Virginia’s constitution despite same-sex marriage being legal since 2014, and advocates seek to repeal the outdated language.
  • A separate amendment would restore voting rights to people with felony convictions after they complete their sentences and tighten the standard for disqualifying voters on mental competency grounds.