Porches and pulpits: Northern Virginia’s final push on abortion amendment

Abortion is not the hot political topic this election season, except here – where it is being fought in two Virginia suburbs outside of Washington, D.C.

At stake: A statewide ballot measure called Question 1 that would add abortion and other reproductive rights to the state constitution.  The battle is being waged acutely in Arlington and Alexandria.

Opposing the amendment are a county Republican committee and the Catholic Diocese of Arlington. Among those on the pro-amendment side are the 15 volunteers gathered Oct. 24. at Alexandria’s Oronoco Park for a door-knocking shift organized by Virginians for Reproductive Freedom.

“We want to let them know we are on the cusp of making reproductive freedom history,” said Tarina Keene, executive director of REPRO Rising Virginia, a coalition member.

Question 1 is the state’s first direct vote on abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. That ruling did not ban abortion. It let each state decide whether to restrict or protect it.

Question 1 asks Virginia voters to protect it.

Abortion is already legal in Virginia through the second trimester. Later abortions require three doctors to agree the patient’s life or health is at risk or the pregnancy cannot survive.

But lawmakers can change those rules with an ordinary vote. Question 1 would put the right in the state constitution instead.

What Question 1 would do

The amendment covers decisions about pregnancy, abortion, miscarriage and fertility care, according to the Virginia Department of Elections.

If approved, the state could only step in to protect a patient’s health. It could restrict abortions during the third trimester, but only if a doctor determines the abortion is needed to save the patient’s life, or if the fetus cannot survive. The decision would require approval from one doctor, rather than three.

The amendment would also protect people from being punished for pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriages.

Unlike Roe v Wade, which allowed states to restrict abortion after 24 weeks, Question 1 would allow those restrictions to begin later, during the third trimester.

Turning resources into votes

According to Virginia Public Access Project, supporters reported raising more than $3.2 million through Sept. 30, compared with about $800,000 reported by opponents.

“Volunteers have knocked on more than 25,000 doors across the Commonwealth since canvassing began in mid-August,” said Ally Walchak, director of Virginians for Reproductive Freedom’s Northern Virginia division.

“I can’t tell you how many conversations I’ve had with people on their doorstep where people were like, ‘I didn’t even know this was on the ballot this year,’” Walchak said.

An opposition built on institutions

In a joint statement, Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington and Bishop Barry Knestout of Richmond, Va., said the amendment would, “enshrine virtually unlimited abortion at any stage of pregnancy,” and pledged to fight it.

In October, the diocese itself gave $33,000 to Virginians for Safe Reproductive Policy, one of the opposition committees, according to state campaign finance records compiled by the Virginia Public Access Project.

The Catholic Diocese of Arlington did not respond to a request for comment.

In an email interview, Chairman Matthew Hurtt of the Arlington County Republican Committee, said the amendment’s broad language could weaken medical safety requirements and undermine parental involvement in minor’s medical decisions.

“Protecting reproductive decisions should also mean preserving qualified providers, enforceable standards, informed parental support, and meaningful medical oversight,” Hurtt said.

The committee is promoting a sample ballot urging “no” votes on Question 1 by text and mail.

Statewide, the conservative Family Foundation of Virginia argues the amendment would remove the state’s existing abortion limits, allowing minors to get abortions without a parent’s consent because it sets no age requirement.

“We’re actually peeling off the very few restrictions we have on abortion,” said Victoria Cobb, president of The Family Foundation told WSLS 10 in Roanoke, Va.

Walchak disputed that. “The law we currently have stays the same. It is not going to do anything else, or give new powers to anyone, including minors.”

The stakes beyond Election Day

“We want to make sure that people’s reproductive health is protected and not used as a political football, which has been done time and time again,” House Majority Leader Charniele Herring, D-Alexandria, said, who carried the amendment in the House.

For Senseney Marshall, 81, of Falls Church, Va., who joined the Oct. 24 canvass, the fight is a familiar one. She kas knocked on doors for reproductive rights since the 1980s.

“I grew up in an era when first it wasn’t legal, then it was legal in five states, then finally we got it all over the country”, Marshall said. “But of course, now we’re reversing course.”

Early voting ends Oct. 31, and Election Day is Nov. 3.

“Women get to make the decisions. It’s a private, personal decision. We don’t need a legislator involved.” Marshall said. “Mind your own business.”