06/02/2026
In light of what occurred at the SCC meeting on Saturday, I am choosing to trust the process.
I hope that when the State Central Committee meets in June, there will be a clear and straightforward motion to formally oppose all three proposed constitutional amendments. In addition, a committee should be established to develop resources, coordinate messaging, and work alongside other like-minded organizations to educate voters on the implications of these amendments.
The challenges posed by these amendments will require a unified and organized effort. Having a dedicated committee in place would help ensure that our response is effective, consistent, and well-coordinated across the Commonwealth.
Statement from the Nelson County Chairman
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The Nelson County Republican Committee stands in strong opposition to all three proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution on the November 2026 ballot. These amendments are being sold to voters as expansions of rights β but each one has far-reaching implications that Virginians need to understand before casting their vote.
The Nelson County Republican Committee has passed Resolution NCGOP-2 formally opposing each of these amendments.
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This amendment contains zero protections for parental rights. It extends constitutional rights to "every individual" β including minors β with no exception for parental notification or consent. Any law giving parents a voice in their child's major medical decisions becomes an immediate litigation target.
Weakening parental involvement laws eliminates one of the most important tools we have to detect sexual abuse, trafficking, in**st, and statutory r**e. Pregnancy is often the moment these crimes come to light. If parents are removed from that picture, victims stay hidden, and predators go free.
The so-called "third trimester protection" is also an illusion. The amendment allows abortion at any stage when a physician cites "mental health", a term left completely undefined. Courts have used identical language before to nullify all gestational limits. The reassuring language was written for voters. Courts will read what is actually on the page.
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This amendment is unnecessary. Marriage equality and in*******al marriage are already fully protected under federal law β Obergefell v. Hodges and Loving v. Virginia settled these questions. Adding them to the Virginia Constitution adds zero new protection for any Virginian.
The inclusion of race in this amendment's language is a deliberate political calculation β designed to make opposition appear motivated by racism rather than legitimate constitutional concerns. It is cynical, it is divisive, and Virginians should see it for what it is: a messaging strategy, not a legal necessity.
Locking marriage policy into the Constitution removes all flexibility from future legislatures on domestic partnerships, civil unions, and family law β permanently, with no ability to adapt as circumstances change. That is not a protection. That is a straitjacket.
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Virginia already provides broad access to voting through early voting, extremely lax Voter ID rules, and easy registration. This amendment fixes a problem that does not exist.
It automatically restores voting rights to convicted felons upon release with no individualized review, thereby stripping the Governor of the oversight authority that exists today for good reason.
By creating a new "fundamental right to vote," it opens the door to years of litigation challenging voter ID laws, election security measures, and other commonsense safeguards.
Finally, Virginia's Constitution should enshrine enduring principles, not serve as a battleground for policy debates that belong in the legislature, where you have a vote and your voice matters.
Michael Hevener
Chairman
Nelson County Republican Committee
