Voters in West Virginia will decide on a constitutional amendment to prohibit people from participating in “the practice of medically assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing of a person.” While several states have voted on ballot measures to allow for assisted death, also known as assisted suicide or aid-in-dying, West Virginia is the first state where voters will decide to prohibit the practice in a state constitution. The constitutional amendment will appear on the ballot as Amendment 1 on Nov. 5, 2024.
In the West Virginia State Legislature, the constitutional amendment was introduced as House Joint Resolution 28 (HJR 28). The House voted 88-9 to pass HJR 28 on Feb. 15. The Senate voted 28-4 to pass HJR 28 on March 9. As the Senate amended HJR 28, concurrence was required in the House. Later on March 9, the House voted 88-10 to refer the constitutional amendment to the ballot.
Danielle Pimentel, Policy Counsel at Americans United for Life, said, “This overwhelming passage is an encouraging step toward the constitutional protection of the elderly and disabled in West Virginia. We look forward to other states following the example of these courageous legislators.”
