# 119-sjres-186: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to the fundamental right to vote.

119-sjres-186, A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to the fundamental right to vote., is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (D-IL); status introduced (as of 2026-10-31).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sjres-186
- As of: 2026-10-31
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-sjres-186
- Congress: 119
- Title: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to the fundamental right to vote.
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-04-27
- Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (D-IL)
- Cosponsors: 9
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-31

## Summary

**A new constitutional right to vote** would guarantee every U.S. citizen of legal voting age the right to vote in any public election where they live. It would require that any denial or abridgment of that right advance a compelling governmental interest and be the least restrictive means, repeal the phrase "or other crime" from Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment, and give Congress power to enforce the article. - Voters and households: All adult citizens would have a clear constitutional protection to vote in their jurisdiction's public elections, making it harder for state rules to justify broad limits. - People with criminal convictions: By removing the phrase "or other crime" from Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment, the amendment would eliminate that specific constitutional basis for restricting voting after a criminal conviction. - State and local officials and Congress: States and localities could only limit voting if they meet a strict "compelling interest" and use the least restrictive means. Congress would be able to pass laws to enforce and protect the new right.

## Cosponsors (9)

- Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (D-MA), 2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (I-VT), 2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), 2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA), 2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA), 2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT), 2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR), 2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] (D-HI), 2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- More voting rights for U.S. citizens: benefit, high. If enacted, this amendment would give every U.S. citizen of legal voting age a right to vote where they live. Federal, state, or local governments would only deny or limit that right if the rule serves a compelling government interest and is the least restrictive way to do so. The amendment would r…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-s-2823: FAMILY Act
- 119-s-2763: Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act
- 119-s-3869: Healthy Families Act
- 119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act

## Sources
- [119-sjres-186 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/186)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990)
- [119-s-2823: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2823)
- [119-s-2763: Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2763)
- [119-s-3869: Healthy Families Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3869)
- [119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-51)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sjres-186 (as of 2026-10-31).