Virginia ballot measures 2026, explained
3 statewide measures on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Each one in plain words: what it does, what a yes and a no vote mean, and the best case on both sides. No recommendations.
Your Virginia ballot, in order. Tap a measure for the full explainer.
Question 1Constitutional amendment
Constitutional reproductive freedom
This would add a rule protecting decisions about pregnancy, birth control, abortion, miscarriage care, and fertility care. It is like putting a personal health choice into Virginia's most important rulebook, where lawmakers would have less power to change it.
- Yes vote
- Adding a constitutional right to reproductive freedom, including abortion, contraception, miscarriage management, and fertility care, while allowing some third-trimester regulation.
- No vote
- Virginia's Constitution would not add this right, leaving these issues mainly to state laws and courts.
Question 2Constitutional amendment
Marriage equality constitutional protection
Virginia's Constitution still has an old rule saying marriage is only between a man and a woman, even though courts stopped enforcing it. This would erase that rule and say two adults cannot be denied a marriage license because of sex, gender, or race.
- Yes vote
- Removing the old marriage definition and protecting marriage licenses and equal treatment for two adults regardless of sex, gender, or race.
- No vote
- Leaving the old one-man-and-one-woman language in Virginia's Constitution, although it is currently unenforceable under federal law.
Question 3Constitutional amendment
Voting rights after prison release
A person convicted of a felony would get the right to vote back automatically after leaving prison. Today, it takes the governor's approval.
- Yes vote
- Automatically restoring voting rights upon release from incarceration instead of requiring individual restoration by the governor.
- No vote
- Keeping Virginia's current governor-based restoration process for people convicted of felonies.
How sure is this guide?
Where the four AIs disagreed
ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Grok each researched Virginia's ballot on their own, with web search. The score is how closely their answers matched. Where they split, check the official voter guide before you trust either side.
78/ 100Partial agreement
Question 3 current restoration process
- GPT-5.6 Terra: Says rights are restored by the governor or another authority.
- Claude Sonnet 5.5: Says rights must be restored individually by the governor.
- Gemini 3.8 Flash: Says people must petition the governor.
- Grok 4.5: Describes rights as permanently removed unless restored by the governor.
Question 3 other consequences
- GPT-5.6 Terra: Focuses on voting rights returning upon release from incarceration.
- Claude Sonnet 5.5: Focuses on automatic voting restoration upon release.
- Gemini 3.8 Flash: Adds claims about probation, parole, restitution, and mental-capacity wording.
- Grok 4.5: Adds claims about jury service, parole, and recent restoration policy.
Before you vote
This guide was written by AI models with web search and does not tell you how to vote. Details can be wrong: your sample ballot and Virginia's official voter guide are the final word.
Still have a question?
A local measure, or what this ballot means for your taxes or job? See where four AIs agree.