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To express the Council's support for the constitutional amendments on the November 3, 2026, general election ballot concerning reproductive freedom, marriage equality, and restoration of voting rights upon release from incarceration.
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WHEREAS, the Constitution of Virginia establishes fundamental rights and protections for the residents of the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, the Council forthrightly supports the advancement of human rights, equal protection under the law, personal liberty, and full civic participation for all persons; and
WHEREAS, upon the information and belief of Council, women and marginalized communities continue to confront barriers to equal opportunity, including workplace discrimination, health care inequities, disparate rates of poverty, gender-based violence, limitations on bodily autonomy, and barriers to voting access and civic participation; and
WHEREAS, upon the information and belief of the Council, the Constitution of Virginia defines marriage as only a union between one man and one woman and such definition does not reflect the principles of equality and inclusion embraced by the Council; and
WHEREAS, the Council believes that the Constitution of Virginia does not provide explicit protections for reproductive freedom, including an individual's right to make personal decisions concerning pregnancy and reproductive health care; and
WHEREAS, under the Constitution of Virginia, individuals convicted of felonies may permanently lose their right to vote unless such rights are restored through executive action, creating barriers to civic participation and reintegration; and
WHEREAS, the Council recognizes that reproductive freedom and access to reproductive health care are matters of personal privacy, bodily autonomy, health, dignity, and individual freedom; and
WHEREAS, the Council supports equal protection under the law and recognizes the dignity, value, and legal equality of all families and relationships regardless of sex, gend...
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