RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia voters have overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment to provide a real estate tax exemption to the surviving spouses of U.S. military members killed in action.

The General Assembly had to approve the proposal twice, with a House of Delegates election in between votes, to have it placed on Tuesday’s statewide ballot. It was sponsored by Republican Del. David Ramadan of Loudoun County.

The exemption applies only to the spouse’s principal home. It ends if the surviving spouse gets remarried. A surviving spouse doesn’t have to be a Virginia resident at the time of the service member’s death to receive the exemption.

In 2010, Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment to provide the real estate tax break to veterans with a permanent, service-related disability.

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