Virginia voters have the imperative to vote on two constitutional amendment proposals that would radically affect abortion law and marriage in the commonwealth.
Amendment 1 on the ballot will ask voters, Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to (i) protect the freedom to make personal decisions about prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion, miscarriage management, and fertility care; (ii) protect doctors, nurses, and patients from being punished for these decisions; and (iii) allow for restrictions on access to abortion during the third trimester of pregnancy except when the patient’s health is at risk or the pregnancy cannot survive?
Pro-life advocates are warning that this misleading language masks the true intentions behind the measure. The Catholic group Protect Virginia 2026 writes that the amendment “is intentionally vague in its wording and creates loopholes that put women and children at risk” and that constitutional amendments “are extremely difficult to repeal.”
If passed, the amendment would allow for extremely radical policies like abortion until birth and enabling minors to obtain an abortion without parental consent.
The same-sex marriage question is also on the ballot. For Amendment 2, voters will be asked: Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to (i) remove the ban on same-sex marriage; (ii) affirm that two adults may marry regardless of sex, gender, or race; and (iii) require all legally valid marriages to be treated equally under the law?
Critics have pointed out that the Virginia Constitution of course does not prohibit interracial marriages, so by including the verbiage “regardless of…race,” it leads voters to believe that a marriage ban of the sort could happen without this amendment.
The US Supreme Court case Obergefell already allows same-sex marriages across the country, but this state-level amendment would provide for permanently allowing same-sex marriages in Virginia should Obergefell be overturned.
🚨NEW: 2 Virginia Ballot Measures Threaten Parental Rights
— Virginia News Vanguard (@VaNewsVanguard) August 31, 2026
Many Virginia parents don't know, so please SHARE:
… "For parents, it is a special time when we marvel at watching our young ones take the next step and are thankful that we can be there to guide and keep them safe… pic.twitter.com/69SGeHPIpT
A third proposed constitutional amendment asks whether convicted felons should automatically have their right to vote in elections restored upon release from incarceration. Virginia Republicans have expressed opposition to this proposed amendment without safeguards like requiring felons to be released from probation and victims’ restitution and any other fines being completely paid before their rights are restored.
The Virginia Catholic Conference is advocating for Virginians to vote “NO” on proposed amendments 1 and 2 while voting “YES” on amendment 3. The Virginia Catholic Conference, however, lacks official Church authority over doctrinal or canonical matters.
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