I stand in strong opposition to HB375. The US Constitution selects our president by the Electoral College, not by majority vote, and there are excellent reasons for this. This bill is simply an underhanded effort to overturn the US Constitution. I am also firmly opposed to HJ1 which would enshrine abortion in the state Constitution and undermine parental rights on this issue. The majority of this country believes that late-term abortions are immoral and should be illegal. With free access to contraception, unwanted pregnancies should rarely occur. When they do, assisting the mother with prenatal care and adoption plans are far preferable to abortion. And I adamantly oppose eliminating parental rights over a child's healthcare. HJ2 - I would have no opposition to HJ2 provided the amendment did not restore voting rights until after the parole period. Instead, this makes voting rights automatic as soon as released from prison. Parole is part of the sentencing; therefore, the felon has not served his full sentence until after the parole period. And if rights are being restored, shouldn't gun rights also be restored?

HB375 - I strongly agree with joining the National Popular Vote compact. It gives more power to us as individuals and aligns with democratic norms. This also strengthens Virginia as presidential hopefuls will have to speak to each state and person as opposed to a handful of swing states. HB658 - Ranked choice voting is a better system for voting and is determined by the candidate with the strongest support. It doesn't affect your 1st choice, lower choices will only be considered if the 1st choice doesn't win. This encourages more civil and policy driven campaigns. HJ1 - I strongly agree with individuals having the right to reproductive freedom. HJ2 - People should not be permanently defined by their past mistakes. HJ9 - Marriage is between two people, it should not be defined as between one man and one woman.

I urge the committee vote against HB375. This takes away the voice of the individual in our state and would lessen our independence from larger states in national elections.

I strongly urge to vote against the joining of the National Popular Vote Compact. This compact would only serve to lessen Virginia's independence from larger population states in national elections, empowering states like California, Texas, New York, and Florida to have even more sway in our national elections. This reduction in Virginia's voice is also a gross attempt at circumventing the Constitution of the United States without attempting any sort of legal amendment to the national election. Please vote against this ill conceived inter-state compact.

NO! This is a totally insane idea. Why would Virginia join a compact that diminishes its influence on a Presidential election at the expense of boosting the influence of more populous urban states? The electoral college, like the constitutionally designed federal bicameral legislature, protects the people from the tyranny of the majority.

I urge the committee to not vote to implement or allow the implementation of ranked choice voting. This type of voting process would dilute the impact of citizen's ability to select their preferred candidate. Rank Choice selection is best left up to the individual parties to determining their nominee in a convention setting - not for the general public in selection of the final elected official. This process is a step backward for the state of VA, and all democracies. In a rank choice voting system for the general public, it would basically guarantee a nominally popular candidates would get selected in a situation where there is a divided public on key main issues. This type of process would not accurately reflect the will of the major of the voting public, and further create disenfranchise in the overall process. Sincerely, Paul White