Virginia
Religious Liberty Ranking:
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35
Grayson Highlands State Park, Virginia
State Capitol,
Richmond, VA
The Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom, drafted by Thomas Jefferson in 1777 and enacted by the legislature in 1786, guaranteed that “civil rights have no dependence on our religious opinions.” But what is Virginia doing to safeguard religious liberty in 2023?
Safeguards
Religious Liberty in the States 2023 measures each state across 34 items that form 7 groups of safeguards. The potential safeguards were identified for their ability to protect the free exercise of religion, as shown by at least one of 50 states adopting a religious liberty protection in the named area. Safeguards were further narrowed to those that could be objectively measured based on a plain reading of state law.
For a more detailed view of how this state stacks up in 2023, select any of the drop-down arrows below for an expanded view of the multi-item safeguards.
Opportunity for Absentee Voting: Yes
Religious Freedom Restoration Act: Yes
Employer Exemption from the Contraceptive Mandate: No
State Capitol,
Richmond, VA
The Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom, drafted by Thomas Jefferson in 1777 and enacted by the legislature in 1786, guaranteed that “civil rights have no dependence on our religious opinions.” But what is Virginia doing to safeguard religious liberty in 2023?
Safeguards
Religious Liberty in the States 2023 measures each state across 29 items that form six groups of safeguards. The list of potential safeguards were identified for their ability to protect the free exercise of religion, as shown by at least one of 50 states adopting a religious liberty protection in the named area. Safeguards were further narrowed to those that could be objectively measured based on a plain reading of state law.
For a more detailed view of how this state stacks up in 2023, select either of the drop-down arrows below for an expanded view of the multi-item safeguards.
