Restoration of civil rights; automatically eligible to vote upon completion of his sentence. (HB1905)
Introduced By
Del. Betsy Carr (D-Richmond) with support from 7 copatrons, whose average partisan position is:
Those copatrons are Del. Bob Brink (D-Arlington), Del. Matthew James (D-Portsmouth), Del. Kaye Kory (D-Falls Church), Del. Delores McQuinn (D-Richmond), Del. Roslyn Tyler (D-Jarratt), Sen. Roz Dance (D-Petersburg), Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✗ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
☐ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Restoration of civil rights. Provides for the automatic restoration of a felon's civil right to be eligible to vote upon the completion of his sentence, including any term of probation or parole, and the payment of all restitution, fines, costs, and fees assessed as a result of the felony conviction. The bill has a contingent effective date of January 1, 2015, provided that the voters approve an amendment to Section 1 of Article II of the Constitution of Virginia at the 2014 November election. Read the Bill »
Outcome
History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 01/08/2013 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/13 13102722D |
| 01/08/2013 | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
| 01/15/2013 | Assigned Courts sub: #1 Criminal |
| 01/30/2013 | Subcommittee recommends laying on the table |
| 02/05/2013 | Left in Courts of Justice |
Comments
When a person has served the time, paid the fines and fees, completed the terms, and made the required restitution, that person is square with the Commonwealth and the Commonwealth should be square with that person. To deny the most basic and honored right of a resident of the Commonwealth because of a debt that has been paid is an abuse of power. We already have too few Virginians whose voices are heard on Election Day. Four GOP house members on a subcommittee blocked this bill, which has bipartisan support and has been endorsed by our Governor. It should come to the floor for a vote.