I just got my absentee ballot and I need help please..

[brltneyrocks]

K, so there are some proposed amendments that I don't understand on my absentee ballot and I was trying to find sites online that would give sort of a nonbiased opinion on what the proposed amendments are even saying. The wording confuses me..

Question 1:
Shall Article 1 (the Bill of Rights) of the Constitution of Virginia be amended to state:

"That only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this Commonwealth and its political subdivisions.

This commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage. Nor shall this Commonwealth or its political subdivisions create or recognize another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage." ?

Question 2:

Shall Section 14 of Article IV of the Constitution of Virginia be amended by deleting the provision that prohibits the incorporation of churches, a provision that was ruled to be unconstitutional and therefore now obsolete.

I feel sorta stupid for asking what these are saying. I'm pretty sure I know what they're asking, but I just want to make sure, since they are so wordy.

You can only answer in "YES or NO" and I just get confused but I do know the stance I'm going to take if I am able to get a clearer understanding of those provisions. I just need someone to please "clear up" those wordy amendments so I can make sure what I think they're saying is what they're saying... (hope that makes sense).

I feel stupid for asking this.. :o

[DoubleEdgeSword]

As far as I can tell, if you vote "yes" for Question 1, you are saying that the state constitution shall say that marriage or anything even resembling marriage shall only be between a man and a woman, and that it will not recognize anything other than that union, no matter what state the couple comes from. If you vote "no" then there will be no amendment that addresses that question.

Question 2 says there is an obsolete and unconstitutional amendment still hanging around. If you vote "Yes" if it will be eliminated. If you vote "no" it will still be in in the constitution, but since it's obsolete and unconstitutional anyway, I'm not sure I see the point. *shrugs*

Don't feel stupid. There's one on my local ballot that I'm still trying to figure out. They don't make it easy.

[brltneyrocks]

Number two doesn't make any sense.
I was reading it as something like separation of church and state, but I guess I was completely off.

What you said makes sense relating to the writing of the proposal, but in general I don't get it. I think I'm in the same boat as you, that question makes no sense. lol

They definitely don't make these things easy to understand.

Thanks for responding :) Really appreciate it!
But I still am confused about #2 lol.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Hey, I may be off on #2, too. Anyone else want to take a shot at it? lol

[Venisenvy]

My understanding of #2 is the same as yours. It sounds like it has been ruled unconstitutional(on the national level) and since the US constitution is Supreme it makes this part of the state constitution obsolete so they are just asking to be able to take it off so it is no longer on the state constitution since it is no longer valid.

[brltneyrocks]

I reread it from your point of view and it makes a lot more sense.
But the proposal is a bit weird haha.
It does seem a lot more clear now but what's the point of this provision... (just thinking "loudly" with that question).

[young again]

League of Women Voters is a good non-partisan resource for election issues. At the state or local level they may be able to provide an English translation and background info for the ballot issues or at least point you toward someone who can.