VirginiaConstitutional amendment (first reference); qualifications of voters; right to vote; persons not entitled to vote.
What it does
Constitutional amendment (first reference); qualifications of voters; right to vote; persons not entitled to vote. Provides that every person who meets the qualifications of voters set forth in the Constitution of Virginia shall have the fundamental right to vote in the Commonwealth and that such right shall not be abridged by law, except for persons who have been convicted of a felony and persons who have been adjudicated to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting. The amendment provides that a person who has been convicted of a felony shall not be entitled to vote during any period of incarceration for such felony conviction, but upon release from incarceration for that felony conviction and without further action required of him, such person shall be invested with all political rights, including the right to vote.
More detail
Currently, in order to be qualified to vote a person convicted of a felony must have his civil rights restored by the Governor or other appropriate authority. The amendment also provides that a person adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction as lacking the capacity to understand the act of voting shall not be entitled to vote during this period of incapacity until his capacity has been reestablished as prescribed by law. Currently, the Constitution of Virginia provides that a person who has been adjudicated to be mentally incompetent is not qualified to vote until his competency is reestablished.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Mar 24Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0604)Latest
- Mar 24Assigned Chapter 604 (Effective 07/01/25)Minor
- Mar 10Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 7Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 7Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ248ER)Passed 2nd Chamber
- Mar 7EnrolledMinor
- Feb 13Agreed to by House (55-Y 42-N)
- Vote recorded Agreed to by House (55-Y 42-N). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 13Taken up
- Feb 12Passed by for the day
- Feb 7Reported from Privileges and Elections (13-Y 9-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Privileges and Elections (13-Y 9-N). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 4Referred to Committee on Privileges and ElectionsMinor
- Jan 21Read third time and agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N)Passed 1st Chamber
- Vote recorded Read third time and agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N). Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 20Engrossed by Senate
- Vote recorded Senator McDougle Amendments rejected. Result: fail.Upper
- Vote recorded Reading of amendments waived. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 20Senator McDougle Amendments rejectedMinor
- Jan 20Reading of amendments waived
- Jan 20Read second timeMinor
- Jan 17Passed by for the day
- Jan 16Read first timeMinor
- Jan 14Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 6-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 6-N). Result: pass.Upper
- 2024
- Nov 25Referred to Committee on Privileges and ElectionsMinor
- Nov 25Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25101531DIntroduced