VirginiaHB9642026 Regular SessionHouse

Voter registration; restoration of political rights upon release from incarceration.

Sponsored By: Marcia S. "Cia" Price (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Voter registration; restoration of political rights upon release from incarceration; certain adjudications. Provides that any person who loses his political rights as a result of a felony conviction shall be invested with those rights upon his release from incarceration and shall be entitled to register to vote. The bill directs the Department of Corrections and the State Board of Local and Regional Jails to transmit to the Department of Elections certain information for incarcerated persons with a pending date of release and requires the Department of Elections to process the information and make the necessary changes to the voter registration system to permit such persons to register to vote by the date of the person's scheduled date of release. On the date of an incarcerated person's release, the appropriate authority is required by the bill to provide a voter registration application, information on returning the form by mail or completing it by electronic means, and an official release document to serve as a safety net for voter registration. The bill also amends the language regarding adjudications of mental incompetency for purposes of being qualified to vote; a person adjudicated to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting shall not be entitled to vote until that capacity has been reestablished. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027, contingent upon the approval of the constitutional amendments at the November 3, 2026, general election. This bill is identical to SB 162.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 4 mixed.

Modern statewide voter registration system

The Department of Elections runs a central system that keeps accurate records for all voters. If you preregister, the system registers you automatically when you become eligible or turn 18 and assigns you a unique voter ID. Local registrars must enter and correct records, and the department sends confirmation and change notices to voters. Before elections, registrars get precinct lists on time (16 days before a general or primary, three days before a special). Agencies must share data to keep rolls accurate, and the department can buy or lease equipment to do this work. The voter form asks for identity, address, citizenship, and certain prior statuses and must be signed; it generally cannot be prefilled. Individual records in the voter system are not available under the state public records law.

Voting rights back after release

If you were jailed for a felony, you cannot register or vote while incarcerated. When you are released, the law restores your political rights and you can register without showing court papers. Jails and state prisons must give you a voter registration form, mailing instructions, and information on how to register online or in person the day you leave. They must also give people released for a felony a document that states their release. The prison system sends release records by set deadlines (by the 16th for releases on days 1–15, and by the 1st of the next month for releases on days 16–end), and the elections department must quickly update the voter file. If the system wrongly flags you as ineligible, the registrar must notify you and register you when you show proof of release. Corrections also helps people in state custody get a 90‑day DMV ID, a Virginia birth certificate copy (if born in Virginia), and a Social Security card. The act repeals Chapter 12.1 of Title 53.1.

Tighter voter roll checks and notices

State police must send monthly lists of people convicted of a felony and sentenced to incarceration, plus a yearly list of all felony convictions. The elections department checks these lists against voters and alerts local registrars. Registrars must remove people who died, moved away, are incarcerated for a felony, were adjudicated incapacitated to lack capacity to vote, or are known noncitizens, within 30 days of notice. If a registration is canceled for being a known noncitizen, the registrar must mail a notice. Courts send monthly lists of new adjudications of incapacity, and the elections department keeps deletion records for four years and certain data permanently. The department must apply to use the federal SAVE program to verify citizenship and set rules for using that information.

Some voters can use a PO box

People in certain protected roles can list a Virginia PO box instead of a street address on public voter lists. Examples include law‑enforcement officers, people with protective orders, address confidentiality participants, judges, and approved foster parents. You must follow the voter address‑change rule to update the PO box.

Fees for printed election materials

If you buy official printed election materials, the state charges a reasonable fee. Sales receipts repay printing costs. The law does not set exact prices.

Guardianship reviews and jury limits

Courts must set a review for guardianships within one year of appointment and at least every three years after that. Some people cannot serve on juries: those adjudicated incapacitated, those convicted of treason or a felony, or those under a listed disability.

Start date depends on 2026 vote

If voters approve the listed constitutional amendments on November 3, 2026, this act takes effect on January 1, 2027. If voters do not approve them, it does not take effect on that date.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Marcia S. "Cia" Price

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 312 • No: 157

House vote 4/22/2026

House concurred in Governor's recommendation

Yes: 64 • No: 34

Senate vote 4/22/2026

Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation

Yes: 21 • No: 18

House vote 3/6/2026

Senate substitute agreed to by House

Yes: 63 • No: 33

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Passed Senate with substitute

Yes: 21 • No: 18

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Privileges and Elections Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/3/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/3/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 10 • No: 5

Senate vote 3/3/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/24/2026

Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 8 • No: 7

House vote 2/12/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 63 • No: 34

House vote 2/6/2026

Reported from Privileges and Elections with amendment(s)

Yes: 16 • No: 6

House vote 2/6/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s)

Yes: 6 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

    4/22/2026Senate
  2. House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 34-N 0-A)

    4/22/2026House
  3. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1081)

    4/22/2026Governor
  4. Reenrolled bill text (HB964ER2)

    4/22/2026House
  5. Approved by Governor-Chapter 1081 (Effective 1/1/2027)

    4/22/2026Governor
  6. Signed by President

    4/22/2026Senate
  7. Signed by Speaker

    4/22/2026House
  8. Governor's recommendation adopted

    4/22/2026Governor
  9. Governor's recommendation received by House

    4/11/2026Governor
  10. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB964)

    3/16/2026House
  11. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/14/2026Governor
  12. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

    3/14/2026House
  13. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB964ER)

    3/13/2026House
  14. Enrolled

    3/13/2026House
  15. Signed by President

    3/13/2026Senate
  16. Signed by Speaker

    3/13/2026House
  17. Senate substitute agreed to by House (63-Y 33-N 0-A)

    3/6/2026House
  18. Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

    3/4/2026Senate
  19. Privileges and Elections Substitute agreed to

    3/4/2026Senate
  20. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

    3/4/2026Senate
  21. Read third time

    3/4/2026Senate
  22. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/3/2026Senate
  23. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/3/2026Senate
  24. Rules suspended

    3/3/2026Senate
  25. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)

    3/3/2026Senate

Bill Text

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