VirginiaConstitutional amendment (second reference); qualifications of voters and the right to vote; persons not entitled to vote.
What it does
Constitutional amendment (second reference); qualifications of voters and the right to vote; persons not entitled to vote. Provides that every person who meets the qualifications of voters set forth in the Constitution 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. 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 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
- 2026
- Mar 31Signed by SpeakerLatest
- Mar 30Signed by PresidentPassed 2nd Chamber
- Mar 30Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ2ER)Passed 1st Chamber
- Feb 2Agreed to by House (60-Y 34-N 0-A)
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 2Taken up
- Jan 30Reported from Privileges and Elections (15-Y 7-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Privileges and Elections. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 20Referred to Committee on Privileges and ElectionsMinor
- Jan 16Agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
- Vote recorded Agree to R. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 16Read third timeMinor
- Jan 15Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Floor Amendments V. Result: fail.Upper
- Jan 15Senator McDougle, Ryan T. Amendments rejected (19-Y 20-N 0-A)Minor
- Jan 15Reading of amendments waived
- Jan 15Floor offered Senator McDougle, Ryan T. Amendments
- Jan 15Read second timeMinor
- Jan 14Read first timeMinor
- Vote recorded Reported from Privileges and Elections. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 14Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 3-N 3-A)Minor
- 2025
- Nov 17Referred to Committee on Privileges and ElectionsMinor
- Nov 17Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100361DIntroduced