Virginia voters supported two proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot Tuesday by a healthy majority.
The first referendum question, which dealt with putting more controls on eminent domain, was the most contentious during the lead-up to the election and passed by a fair majority Tuesday, with the support of 76.3 percent of state voters.
Voters agreed to amend the state constitution to limit eminent domain, the ability of governments to take private property, so it is only exercised when the property taken or damaged is for public use, not private gain. The amendment also aims to define what is included in just compensation for taking or damaging property in this manner.
The second amendment will allow the General Assembly to delay the start of the veto session for up to one week and avoid the possible scheduling of the veto session on a religious holiday. The Constitution currently requires that the veto session has to begin on the sixth Wednesday following the end of each session.
Virginia voters passed this measure with 82.2 percent of votes cast.
York County broadly supported the eminent domain amendment, with 83 percent of voters approving the change. York voters also approved the delay of the veto session, again with 83 percent of voters approving the amendment.
James City County voters also supported the eminent domain amendment by a large margin — before about 6,000 absentee ballots were counted, 77.7 percent of voters supported the idea. James City also passed the the second amendment by a large margin, with 84.9 percent giving it the thumbs up.
Williamsburg followed the trend, with 75.1 percent supporting the eminent domain amendment and 81.2 percent supporting the delay of the veto session.
