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More than 300,000 Virginians are unable to vote due to the state's felony disfranchisement law.

Legislation in the 2009 General Assembly

Restoration of Civil Rights for Non-Violent Felons
HJ 628 (Ware); HJ 656 (Tyler); HJ 726 (Hall); SJ 273 (Y. Miller)

Summary: These resolutions amend the Virginia Constitution to allow the General Assembly to provide for the restoration of civil rights, including voting rights, for persons who have been convicted of non-violent felonies who have completed all the requirements of their sentences. Currently, the Virginia Constitution allows only the Governor to restore an individual’s civil rights.

Status:

HJ 628: Reported from House Privileges & Elections Subcommittee on the Constitution (4-Y, 3-N) on Jan. 19. Tabled in the full House Privileges & Elections Committee (12-Y, 10-N) on Feb. 6.

• Click here to read the ACLU's Memo to the House P&E Committee.
• Click here to read the American Probation and Parole Association's Letter to the House P&E Committee.

HJ 656: Incorporated into HJ 628 (Ware) by voice vote in the House Privileges & Elections Committee on Feb. 6.

HJ 726: Left in House Privileges & Elections Committee on Feb. 10.

SJ 273: Reported from Senate Privileges & Elections Committee (12-Y, 2-N) on Feb. 3. Passed the full Senate (27-Y, 13-N) on Feb. 9. Failed to report from the House Privileges & Elections subcommittee on the Constitution (4-Y, 4-N) on Feb. 16.

• Click here to read the ACLU's Memo to the Senate.

Restoration of Civil Rights for All Felons
HJ 623 (Dance); HJ 664 (Morrissey); HJ 677 (BaCote)

Summary: These resolutions amend the Virginia Constitution to allow the General Assembly to provide for the restoration of civil rights, including voting rights, for all persons who have been convicted of felonies who have completed all the requirements of their sentences. Currently, the Virginia Constitution allows only the Governor to restore an individual’s civil rights.

Status:

HJ 623: Recommended to be passed by indefinitely in House Privileges & Elections Subcommittee (6-Y, 2-N) on the Constitution on Jan. 19. Left in House Privileges & Elections Committee on Feb. 10.

HJ 664: Recommended to be incorporated into HJ 623 (Dance) by voice vote of the House Privileges & Elections Subcommittee on the Constitution on Jan. 19. Left in House Privileges & Elections Committee on Feb. 10.

HJ 677: Recommended to be tabled by voice vote of the House Privileges & Elections Subcommittee on the Constitution on Jan. 19. Left in House Privileges & Elections Committee on Feb. 10.

Automatic Restoration of Rights for Non-Violent Felons
SJ 354 (McEachin)

Summary: This resolution amends the Virginia Constitution to provide for the automatic restoration of civil rights, including voting rights, for persons convicted of non-violent felonies (except felony drug and election fraud crimes) who have completed all the requirements of their sentences. This resolution also amends the Virginia Constitution to allow the General Assembly to provide for the restoration of civil rights for persons convicted of violent felonies, or felony drug or election fraud crimes.

Status: SJ 354 reported from Senate Privileges & Elections Committee with amendments (9-Y, 3-N, 2-A) on Feb. 3. On Feb. 9, SJ 354 was rejected by the Senate on a 19-19 vote, and the Chair of the Senate voted against the resolution.