VirginiaSJ2482025 Regular SessionSenate

Constitutional amendment (first reference); qualifications of voters; right to vote; persons not entitled to vote.

Sponsored By: Mamie E. Locke (Democratic)

Adopted

Summary

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. 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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Bill Overview

No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mamie E. Locke

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 151 • No: 100

House vote • 2/13/2025

Agreed to by House

Yes: 55 • No: 42

House vote • 2/7/2025

Reported from Privileges and Elections

Yes: 13 • No: 9

Senate vote • 1/21/2025

Read third time and agreed to by Senate

Yes: 21 • No: 18

Senate vote • 1/20/2025

Reading of amendments waived

Yes: 35 • No: 4

Senate vote • 1/20/2025

Senator McDougle Amendments rejected

Yes: 19 • No: 21

Senate vote • 1/14/2025

Reported from Privileges and Elections

Yes: 8 • No: 6

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0604)

    3/24/2025Governor
  2. Assigned Chapter 604 (Effective 07/01/25)

    3/24/2025House
  3. Signed by President

    3/10/2025Senate
  4. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ248ER)

    3/7/2025Senate
  5. Signed by Speaker

    3/7/2025House
  6. Enrolled

    3/7/2025Senate
  7. Agreed to by House (55-Y 42-N)

    2/13/2025House
  8. Taken up

    2/13/2025House
  9. Passed by for the day

    2/12/2025House
  10. Reported from Privileges and Elections (13-Y 9-N)

    2/7/2025House
  11. Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

    2/4/2025House
  12. Read third time and agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N)

    1/21/2025Senate
  13. Senator McDougle Amendments rejected

    1/20/2025Senate
  14. Reading of amendments waived

    1/20/2025Senate
  15. Engrossed by Senate

    1/20/2025Senate
  16. Read second time

    1/20/2025Senate
  17. Passed by for the day

    1/17/2025Senate
  18. Read first time

    1/16/2025Senate
  19. Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 6-N)

    1/14/2025Senate
  20. Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

    11/25/2024Senate
  21. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25101531D

    11/25/2024Senate

Bill Text

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