Abortion Rights are on the 2026 Midterm Election in Virginia

Abortion is seen in the 2026 Midterm Elections in 4 states: Idaho, Nevada, Missouri, and Virginia–where all but Missouri have initiatives that would protect abortion rights in the state. On November 3rd, Virginia will hold a Congressional General Election, and the right-to-reproductive-freedom amendment will appear on Virginians' ballots.

A proposed constitutional amendment could enshrine reproductive freedom in Virginia. The proposed Constitutional Amendment 1 states:

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?

Led by Virginians for Reproductive Freedom, this amendment will protect the freedom to make personal decisions about this specific healthcare. It will also protect patients and healthcare workers from being penalized for their patients’ decisions or for helping others exercise their right to make such decisions.

Although there are restrictions in this amendment, there would be no access to abortion during the third trimester of pregnancy–except for the risk to the patient’s health, or if the pregnancy cannot survive. As such, abortion is currently legal up to 26 weeks and 6 days. The Democratic-led General Assembly initially passed the proposed amendment in 2025, and again near the beginning of 2026.

In 2025, 40,090 abortions were provided by clinicians in Virginia, which is around the same number as in 2024. From 2020 to 2025, the number of abortions provided in Virginia increased by 114%. This state became a key point of access for those traveling from other states. States such as North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida had the most people traveling to Virginia. 2,180, 1,240, and 1,770 people traveled, respectively.

In an interview with WMAU 88.5, Kacia Kriener Putman talks about her pregnancy complication. 3 weeks before her first pregnancy's due date, Kacia developed pre-eclampsia and HELLP. Respectively, the high blood pressure condition that causes organ damage and the syndrome that affects blood clotting and liver function are life-threatening conditions that led to an emergency cesarean section. Luckily, the new mother brought her son, Malcolm, into the world–but at what cost?

Later on, she and her husband decided to have another child whilst discussing her concerns with her doctors. She states, “It’s scary that (my daughter) might not have existed…if I didn’t have the freedom (to get an abortion),” explaining that she felt safe to bring another child into this world because she knew she could get an abortion if she needed one to save her life.

Election day is less than a week away, but with early voting, tens of millions in the nation have cast their ballots.

Voters in these 4 states will have the opportunity to directly vote on the status of bodily autonomy, and the results will affect everyone.

Abortion is a fundamental right–and it must be constitutionally protected. For Virginians to implement this in their state constitution, it will show that no matter what the federal government does, this right will stay.