×

Amendments pass narrowly and overwhelmingly

CHARLESTON — While one of the amendments to the West Virginia Constitution on the ballot received overwhelming support from voters Tuesday night, another amendment passed by a narrow margin.

Voters approved Amendment 1, adding language to the state constitution making clear there is no right to an abortion, passed with 52 percent for and 48 percent against according to unofficial results submitted by county clerks to the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office. That’s with 45 percent of precincts completely reported and 16 percent partially reported in by press time.

With the passage of Amendment 1, the state constitution would include language saying, “Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of abortion.”

Supporters of Amendment 1 claim it’s only meant to limit taxpayer-funded abortions. The language for Amendment 1 was based on a 2014 ballot measure in Tennessee, which also eliminated the right to abortion from its constitution. The West Virginia Legislature passed a joint resolution creating the constitutional amendment last March. Opponents say the amendment goes too far.

Amendment 2, which gives the West Virginia Legislature oversight of the judicial branch’s budget, passed with 73 percent for and 27 percent against according to unofficial results.

Amendment 2 gives the legislature the authority to reduce the amount of general revenue appropriations to the judiciary in the budget bill submitted by the governor’s office to the legislature during every yearly legislative session.

Introduced in January during the 2018 regular session of the West Virginia Legislature, the joint resolution unanimously passed both chambers after public outrage over the lavish spending by justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. The spending included depleting the court’s $29 million surplus over four years, and $1.9 million on renovations and furnishing of the individual justice’s offices.

Previously, West Virginia was the only state where the legislative branch had no say over the budget submitted by the judicial branch.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today