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2021 SPECIAL SESSION I

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SJ 272 Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters and the right to vote (first reference).

Introduced by: Mamie E. Locke | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

Constitutional amendment (first 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, he shall be invested with all political rights, including the right to vote. A person who has been adjudicated to lack 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. This resolution is identical to HJ 555.

SUMMARY AS PASSED SENATE:

Constitutional amendment (first reference); qualifications of voters and the right to vote; persons not entitled to vote. Establishes that a person who meets the constitutional qualifications for voters has the fundamental right to vote and that such right cannot be abridged by law, except in the case of persons convicted of a felony and persons adjudicated to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting. A person convicted of a felony shall not be entitled to vote during any period of imprisonment and a person adjudicated to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting shall not be entitled to vote until his capacity has been reestablished.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Constitutional amendment (first reference); qualifications of voters and the right to vote. Establishes that the sole qualifications to vote in the Commonwealth are being a United States citizen, at least 18 years of age, a resident of the Commonwealth, and registered to vote in accordance with the requirements set out in the Constitution of Virginia. The amendment further provides that any person who meets those qualifications has the right to vote and that such right cannot be abridged by law. The bill lifts restrictions on qualifications to vote for those who have been convicted of a felony or adjudicated to be mentally incompetent.