Next month, Virginia voters will be asked whether they support a change to the state constitution related to property rights. Here’s the question as it will appear on the ballot:

Shall Section 11 of Article I (Bill of Rights) of the Constitution of Virginia be amended (i) to require that eminent domain only be exercised where the property taken or damaged is for public use and, except for utilities or the elimination of a public nuisance, not where the primary use is for private gain, private benefit, private enterprise, increasing jobs, increasing tax revenue, or economic development; (ii) to define what is included in just compensation for such taking or damaging of property; and (iii) to prohibit the taking or damaging of more private property than is necessary for the public use?

To read the State Election Board’s explanation of the question and the language of the amendment, visit bit.ly/ballot_question

Read commentaries by guest writers who favor and oppose the amendment and join in a discussion here.