THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 6, 1996 TAG: 9611060354
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A15 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: Decision 96
SOURCE: BY SONJA BARISIC, ASSOCIATED PRESS
LENGTH: 70 lines
Virginians approved four amendments to the state's constitution Tuesday, including two anti-crime initiatives and a measure that will prevent the government from borrowing money from the state's employee pension fund.
A fifth amendment, which would allow churches to incorporate, was too close to call.
The amendments got little attention during a fall campaign season that emphasized the presidential race and the U.S. Senate race in Virginia.
The anti-crime amendments affirm the General Assembly's authority to pass laws protecting the rights of crime victims and allow prosecutors to appeal adverse rulings of the state appeals court to the Virginia Supreme Court.
With 61 percent of the state's 2,209 precincts reporting, the victims'-rights amendment was approved 84 percent to 16 percent.
The commonwealth's right-of-appeal amendment was approved 72 percent to 28 percent, with 60 percent of precincts reporting.
An amendment to limit the use of Virginia Retirement System funds to activities ``solely in the interests'' of members was approved 82 percent to 18 percent, with 61 percent of precincts reporting.
The amendment bars the governor and legislature from using the state employees' nest egg to finance unrelated projects. Several state employee organizations promoted it, and there was no organized opposition.
The fund, worth about $26 billion, is not in financial trouble, said Joan Dent, executive director of the Virginia Governmental Employees Association. The amendment, she said, is ``just a protection that we can build into the system now that will prevent a lot of heartaches later on.''
The measure makes the retirement fund an independent trust fund kept separate from other state money. That will make it harder for the General Assembly or the governor to try to balance the state budget by reducing contributions to the retirement fund and using the money saved for the general fund, Dent said.
The amendment affects most local government employees, as well as state employees, Dent said, because they participate in the retirement system.
A fourth amendment has been described as a housekeeping measure, designed to improve the state's compliance with the federal motor voter law, which allows people to register to vote at motor vehicle offices and other public offices.
The amendment would change the information an applicant for state voter registration must provide to match that required on a federal form and give the General Assembly power to pass laws on how long voters who move can vote in their old precincts before updating their registrations.
With 60 percent of precincts reporting, that amendment passed 76 percent to 24 percent.
The fifth amendment would allow churches to organize as nonprofit corporations, striking an 18th century measure designed to prevent establishment of a state-sponsored church. Forty-eight other states already allow churches to structure themselves as nonprofit corporations, which makes it easier for them to own property.
With 84 percent of precincts reporting, the amendment was polling 50 percent yes and 50 percent no votes.
The amendment was opposed by the Tidewater Metro Baptist Ministers Conference. The group represents 134 black churches in Hampton Roads. ILLUSTRATION: Drawings
Graphic
The Vote in South Hampton Roads
Four of the five constitutional amendments on the ballot were
approved overwhelmingly by voters.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA STATE CONSTITUTION ELECTION VIRGINIA
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT by CNB