November 9, 2026To the Community:
The League of Women Voters of Vermont congratulates Vermonters for voting yes on Nov. 3 to add Proposal 4 (Article 23), Equal Protection of Law Amendment, to the Vermont Constitution.
According to the Secretary of State's election night reporting, almost 73.9% or 230,396 of voters approved adding Prop 4 to the Vermont Constitution. Upon certification of the vote, Article 23 is effective immediately.
Added to Chapter 1 of the Vermont Constitution, Article 23 (Equality of Rights) will now read:
“That the people are guaranteed equal protection under the law. The State shall not deny equal treatment under the law on account of a person’s race, ethnicity, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or national origin. Nothing in this Article shall be interpreted or applied to prevent the adoption or implementation of measures intended to provide equality of treatment and opportunity for members of groups that have historically been subject to discrimination.”
Article 23 gives the Legislature constitutional support to adopt laws that ensure all people in Vermont are treated with equal dignity and respect.
With its historical roots in suffrage, the League of Women Voters has long supported equality of rights because its core mission is to protect constitutional liberties and ensure that all individuals are free from legal, economic, or administrative discrimination.
Marguerite Adelman, vice president