# Virginia HJ2: Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters and the right to vote; persons not entitled to vote. Virginia HJ2, Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters and the right to vote; persons not entitled to vote., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker (Democratic); status adopted, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0974)) (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HJ2-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HJ2 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters and the right to vote; persons not entitled to vote. - Status: adopted - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-11-17 - Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0974) - Sponsor: Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 6 (109 yes, 60 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary 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. 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. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Stronger voting protections for Virginia residents: benefit, medium. The law protects voting as a fundamental right, subject to its stated exceptions. Voters must be U.S. citizens, at least 18, registered, and meet residence rules. Residence requires both a permanent legal home and a place to live in Virginia and the voting precinct. The legislature can allow overse… - Court rulings limit and restore voting: mixed, medium. A person cannot vote while a court has ruled that they lack the capacity to understand voting. Voting eligibility returns when that capacity is reestablished through the process required by law. - Voting rights return after felony incarceration: mixed, medium. People convicted of a felony cannot vote while incarcerated for that conviction. Upon release, all political rights, including voting, return automatically. No person or government authority needs to take further action to restore those rights. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-01-16 | Senate | Reading of amendments waived (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-01-16 | Senate | Senator McDougle Amendments rejected (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-01-16 | Senate | Passed Senate | pass | 21 | 18 | | | 2026-01-14 | Senate | Reported from Privileges and Elections | pass | 8 | 3 | 2 | | 2026-01-14 | House | Reported from Privileges and Elections | pass | 15 | 6 | | | 2026-01-14 | House | Agreed to by House | pass | 65 | 33 | | ## Actions (20) - 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0974) (Governor) - 2026-04-13: Assigned Chapter 974 (Effective 7/1/2026) (House) - 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ2ER) (House) - 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-01-16: Floor offered (Senate) - 2026-01-16: Passed Senate (Senate) - 2026-01-16: Senator McDougle Amendments rejected (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-01-16: Reading of amendments waived (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-01-16: Agreed to by Senate (Senate) - 2026-01-16: Read third time (Senate) - 2026-01-15: Read second time (Senate) - 2026-01-14: Agreed to by House (65-Y 33-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-01-14: Engrossed by House (House) - 2026-01-14: Taken up (House) - 2026-01-14: Reported from Privileges and Elections (15-Y 6-N) (House) - 2026-01-14: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (Senate) - 2026-01-14: Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 3-N 2-A) (Senate) - 2025-11-17: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (House) - 2025-11-17: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100156D (House) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224855.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224854.PDF) - Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090221.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090220.PDF) - Amendment, 2026-01-16: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089428.HTML) - Introduced, 2025-11-17: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081217.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081216.PDF) ## Related bills - HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed) - SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed) - HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed) - HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed) - HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed) - HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed) ## Sources - [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224855.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224854.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090221.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090220.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089428.HTML) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081217.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081216.PDF) ## Related - [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026) - [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026) - [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026) - [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026) - [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026) - [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026) - [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills) - [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HJ2-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).