SJ248
Constitutional amendment (first reference); qualifications of voters; right to vote; persons not entitled to vote.
Status:
Passed
Latest Action:
March 24, 2025
House: Assigned Chapter 604 (Effective 07/01/25)
Chief Patron:
Mamie Locke (D)
Session:
2025 Regular Session
Summary
As Introduced. 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 ... (More) 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. (Less)-
Bill History
- 11/25/2024 - Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25101531D
- 11/25/2024 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
- 01/14/2025 - Senate: Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 6-N)
- 01/16/2025 - Senate: Read first time
- 01/17/2025 - Senate: Passed by for the day
- 01/20/2025 - Senate: Read second time
- 01/20/2025 - Senate: Reading of amendments waived
- 01/20/2025 - Senate: Senator McDougle Amendments rejected Close Floor Vote
- 01/20/2025 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate
- 01/21/2025 - Senate: Read third time and agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N) Close Floor Vote
- 02/04/2025 - House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
- 02/06/2025 - House: Placed on Privileges and Elections Agenda
- 02/07/2025 - House: Reported from Privileges and Elections (13-Y 9-N)
- 02/10/2025 - House: Placed on House Calendar for Feb 11, 2025
- 02/12/2025 - House: Passed by for the day
- 02/13/2025 - House: Taken up
- 02/13/2025 - House: Agreed to by House (55-Y 42-N) Close Floor Vote
- 03/07/2025 - Senate: Enrolled
- 03/07/2025 - Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ248ER)
- 03/07/2025 - House: Signed by Speaker
- 03/10/2025 - Senate: Signed by President
- 03/24/2025 - House: Assigned Chapter 604 (Effective 07/01/25)
