Virginia · November 3, 2026 general election · Statewide ballot measure
Question 1: what your vote means
Reproductive freedom. On every Virginia ballot. Official sources checked October 26, 2026.
Question 1 · Legislatively referred constitutional amendment
Reproductive freedom
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?
Ballot question as published by the Virginia Department of Elections.
A YES vote means:
The Virginia Bill of Rights would include a fundamental right to make and carry out decisions about one’s own reproductive care, with the state allowed to regulate abortion in the third trimester except when medically needed or when the fetus is not viable.
A NO vote means:
The constitution would not change; it currently does not explicitly provide a right to reproductive freedom.
What it would change
- Who is affected: patients, doctors, nurses, and others who assist with reproductive care.
- Covers: prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, abortion care, miscarriage management, and fertility care.
- Limits on the state: restrictions must be justified by a compelling state interest achieved by the least restrictive means; no penalties for exercising the right or for pregnancy outcomes.
- Fiscal impact: No official fiscal impact statement is published in the Department of Elections’ explanation for this amendment.
Who supports it and who opposes it
These lists come from official campaign filings (registered committees) and public endorsements, each linked to its source. They are not complete, and SaveYourState does not endorse anyone listed. Lists checked October 30, 2026.
Who supports it
- Feminists for Reproductive Freedom Virginia Department of Elections: referendum committee Statement of Organization (position: support)
- VB Vote Yes Committee Virginia Department of Elections: referendum committee Statement of Organization (position: support)
- Virginians for Reproductive Freedom Virginia Department of Elections: referendum committee Statement of Organization (position: support)
Who opposes it
- Defend Virginia's Sons and Daughters, Inc. Virginia Department of Elections: referendum committee Statement of Organization (position: oppose)
- No Safeguards, No Deal Virginia Department of Elections: referendum committee Statement of Organization (position: oppose)
- Virginia Catholic Conference VPM News: Committees lay groundwork to campaign on constitutional amendments (July 27, 2026)
- Virginia Conservative Action Referendum Committee 2026 Virginia Department of Elections: referendum committee Statement of Organization (position: oppose)
- Virginia Medical Professionals for Women's Safety Virginia Department of Elections: referendum committee Statement of Organization (position: oppose)
- Virginia Voters For Freedom, Inc Virginia Department of Elections: referendum committee Statement of Organization (position: oppose)
- Virginians for Safe Reproductive Policy Virginia Department of Elections: referendum committee Statement of Organization (position: oppose)
- VSHL 2026 Referendum Committee Virginia Department of Elections: referendum committee Statement of Organization (position: oppose)
Official sources
- Virginia Department of Elections: Proposed Constitutional Amendment, Question 1 (explanation and full text)
- Explanation for voters, Question 1 (PDF)
- Full text of the amendment, Question 1 page
SaveYourState is independent and nonpartisan, not a government site, and does not take positions on ballot measures. This explainer describes effects only, using the official ballot title, explanatory statement, full text, and fiscal impact statement. If anything here differs from those documents, the official documents control.