RICHMOND, VA (AP) – The Democratic-led Virginia Senate has voted to enshrine the right to an abortion and to vote in the state’s constitution. The measures passed on two party-line votes.
In a 24-15 bipartisan vote, lawmakers also passed a resolution repealing a now-defunct ban on same-sex marriage. The Democratic-led Virginia House of Delegates passed similar legislation on all three issues earlier this month. Virginia Republicans said the abortion and voting rights amendments interfere with parents’ and victims’ rights. The voting amendment revises the state’s current method of restoring voting rights to people convicted of felonies.