IT’S YOUR TURN TO MAKE HISTORY. VOTE YES ON PROP 4!
The League of Women Voters of Vermont supports amending the Vermont constitution to include Proposal 4 (Prop 4), Equal Protection of Law, which, if approved by voters on November 3, 2026, will protect the rights and dignity of every Vermonter.
Proposal 4: Amendment to Protect Against Unequal Treatment
Proposal 4 (Prop 4) is a legislatively referred constitutional amendment that will amend the Vermont Constitution by adding a new article to Chapter 1 that will 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.”
Prop 4 will appear on the ballot as Article 23. On November 3, Vermonters will be asked to vote on amending the Vermont constitution to include Prop 4 “Equal Protection of Law.”
When voting on Prop 4, you can choose between two options:
- “YES” puts these protections in the Vermont State Constitution
- “NO” leaves these protections out of the State Constitution
Prop 4 Belongs in the Constitution
Vermont’s Constitution, adopted in 1777, does not have an equal protection clause that prohibits discrimination based on a person’s race, sex, religion, or other characteristics.
Article 7, Common Benefits Clause, serves as the constitutional protection against unequal treatment but does not address the problems of unfair and unjust discrimination.
Adding Prop 4 (Article 23) to the constitution gives the legislature constitutional support to adopt laws that ensure all people in Vermont will be treated with equal dignity and respect.
Constitutional rights are permanent. This is particularly significant because we can no longer count on the Supreme Court or federal government to provide adequate protection against discrimination.
Prop 4. Making it on the November Ballot
A constitutional amendment needs to pass two legislative sessions before being referred to voters at a General Election. In the first session, an amendment must pass the State Senate by a two-third (66.67%) majority vote and the House of Representatives by a simple majority. In the second legislative session, the amendment must pass both chambers by a simple majority.
Proposal 4 was introduced on May 12, 2023. It passed the Senate on April 23, 2024, by 28-0; and the House on May 8, 2024, by 141-4. In the second legislative session, Proposal 4 passed the Senate 29-0 on March 11, 2026, and the House 128-14 on May 13, 2026.
Key Supporters and Advocates
● Vermont Racial Justice Alliance: Executive Director Rev. Mark Hughes and other leaders have championed the measure as a critical defense for marginalized groups.
- Vermont Commission on Women: Executive Director Cary Brown and organizational representatives have publicly advocated for the amendment.
- League of Women Voters of Vermont: Supports Prop 4 and urges a Yes vote on this amendment.
- Civil Rights & Public Interest Groups: Organizations including ACLU-Vermont and Vermont Human Rights Commission have supported expanding explicit anti-discrimination frameworks.
- Legislative Leadership: Sponsored originally by 23 state senators and backed by leaders including House Speaker Jill Krowinski, the proposal achieved near-unanimous bipartisan support through consecutive legislative sessions before being formally proclaimed for the ballot by Governor Phil Scott on July 28, 2026.