HJ 2 VA

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Passed Legislature

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.

• Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker Democratic · primary

1. Nov 17, 2025 Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100156D · lower
2. Nov 17, 2025 Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections · lower
3. Jan 14, 2026 Reported from Privileges and Elections (15-Y 6-N) · lower
4. Jan 14, 2026 Taken up · lower
5. Jan 14, 2026 Engrossed by House · lower
6. Jan 14, 2026 Agreed to by House (65-Y 33-N 0-A) · lower
7. Jan 14, 2026 Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections · upper
8. Jan 14, 2026 Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 3-N 2-A) · upper
9. Jan 15, 2026 Read second time · upper
10. Jan 16, 2026 Read third time · upper
11. Jan 16, 2026 Floor offered Senator McDougle Amendments · upper
12. Jan 16, 2026 Reading of amendments waived (Voice Vote) · upper
13. Jan 16, 2026 Senator McDougle Amendments rejected (Voice Vote) · upper
14. Jan 16, 2026 Passed Senate · upper
15. Jan 16, 2026 Agreed to by Senate · upper
16. Mar 30, 2026 Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ2ER) · lower
17. Mar 30, 2026 Signed by President · upper
18. Mar 31, 2026 Signed by Speaker · lower

The published texts of this bill as it moves through the legislature. Each links to the official document on the state legislature site. Data from OpenStates.

• Enrolled · PDF
• Enrolled · HTML
• Senator McDougle Amendments · HTML
• Introduced · PDF
• Introduced · HTML