The Virginia House and Senate each approved a constitutional amendment that would automatically restore voting rights to people convicted of felonies upon completion of their sentence. Lawmakers

The Virginia state Senate completed the first step to send a set of amendments on abortion and marriage before voters in next year’s elections. Lawmakers pushed forward a trio of amendments. The abortion amendment would enshrine a “fundamental right” to abortion,

Virginia’s Democratic-led Senate on Tuesday passed constitutional amendments on abortion and voting rights that were quickly lambasted by Republicans who could use the issues as the party tries to regain ground in November’s statewide elections.

The Virginia Senate voted Tuesday to advance a trio of constitutional amendments to guarantee Virginians' right to abortion care, automatically restore voting rights to disenfranchised felons and remove an antiquated law banning same-sex marriage .