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VA HJR2
VA HJR2Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters and the right to vote; persons not entitled to vote.
summary
Introduced
11/17/2025
11/17/2025
In Committee
01/14/2026
01/14/2026
Crossed Over
01/14/2026
01/14/2026
Passed
01/16/2026
01/16/2026
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
04/13/2026
04/13/2026
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
2026 Regular Regular Session
Bill 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.
AI Summary
This Joint Resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to establish voting rights in the Commonwealth, affirming that every citizen meeting the age and residency requirements has a fundamental right to vote that cannot be taken away by law, with two specific exceptions: individuals convicted of a felony will not be able to vote while incarcerated but will automatically regain their voting rights upon release without needing further action, and individuals legally determined by a court to lack the capacity to understand voting will not be able to vote during that period of incapacity until their capacity is reestablished by law. This proposal aims to simplify the process for felony conviction restoration of voting rights, which currently requires a governor's pardon or similar action, and clarifies the conditions under which individuals deemed mentally incompetent can have their voting rights restored.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (64)
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D)*,
Kimberly Adams (D),
Jessica Anderson (D),
Bonita Anthony (D),
Alex Askew (D),
David Bulova (D),
Katrina Callsen (D),
Kacey Carnegie (D),
Betsy Carr (D),
Stacey Carroll (D),
Nadarius Clark (D),
Laura Jane Cohen (D),
Joshua Cole (D),
Nicole Cole (D),
Kelly Convirs-Fowler (D),
Rae Cousins (D),
Karrie Delaney (D),
Lindsey Dougherty (D),
Mark Downey (D),
Michael Feggans (D),
Lily Franklin (D),
Debra Gardner (D),
Jackie Glass (D),
Elizabeth Guzmán (D),
C.E. Hayes (D),
Dan Helmer (D),
J.R. Henson (D),
Phil Hernandez (D),
Charniele Herring (D),
Patrick Hope (D),
Michael Jones (D),
Karen Keys-Gamarra (D),
Paul Krizek (D),
Amy Laufer (D),
Destiny LeVere Bolling (D),
Michelle Lopes-Maldonado (D),
Alfonso Lopez (D),
Fernando Martinez (D),
John Chilton McAuliff (D),
Adele McClure (D),
Delores McQuinn (D),
Leslie Chambers Mehta (D),
Candi Mundon King (D),
May Nivar (D),
Marcia Price (D),
Sam Rasoul (D),
Atoosa Reaser (D),
David Reid (D),
Don Scott (D),
Holly Seibold (D),
Briana Sewell (D),
Irene Shin (D),
Mark Sickles (D),
Marcus Simon (D),
Shelly Simonds (D),
J.J. Singh (D),
Richard Sullivan (D),
Josh Thomas (D),
Virgil Thornton (D),
Luke Torian (D),
Kathy Tran (D),
Jeion Ward (D),
Vivian Watts (D),
Rodney Willett (D),
Last Action
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0974) (on 04/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HJ2 |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HJ2/text/CHAP0974 |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HJ2/text/HJ2ER |
| Senator McDougle, Ryan T. Amendments | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HJ2/text/HJ2AS1 |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HJ2/text/HJ2 |
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