Virginia · 2025 Regular Session · Constitutional Amendment
SJ 2: Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters, right to vote, persons not entitled to vote.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SJ 2 is a constitutional amendment introduced in the Virginia Senate on November 20, 2023. According to its official title, it concerns: Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters, right to vote, persons not entitled to vote. Primary sponsor: Mamie Locke (Democratic). It lists 5 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (November 19, 2024): Left in Privileges and Elections.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
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 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 of Virginia provides that a person who has been adjudicated to be mentally incompetent is not qualified to vote until his competency is reestablished.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 5
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mamie Locke | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 23 |
| Jennifer Boysko | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 38 |
| Creigh Deeds | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 11 |
| Ghazala F. Hashmi | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Marcus Simon | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 13 |
| Jeion Ward | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 87 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Left in Privileges and Elections
- Continued to 2025 in Privileges and Elections (14-Y 0-N)
- Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
- Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24100014D