Voting Rights Restoration Legislation in the 111th Congress

This bill declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, such individual is serving a felony sentence in a correctional institution or facility.

This bill also provides for enforcement and remedies for violations of this Act. This bill would prohibit any state, unit of local government, or other person from receiving or using any federal grant amounts to construct or improve a place of incarceration unless that person has a program to notify each U.S. citizen incarcerated in that person’s jurisdiction, on release from such incarceration, of that individual’s rights under this Act.

This bill would restore the right to vote to individuals who have completed the terms of imprisonment of their felony sentence. Correctional officers are required to inform individuals within 30 days after their release of their right to vote in federal elections and the date of the next election in which they are eligible to vote.

This bill would establish that the right to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied because past of conviction of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, the individual is serving a felony sentence in a correctional institution or facility. Individuals are required to be informed of their right to vote upon completion of their term of imprisonment.

The bill would also specify that: (1) nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit a state from enacting any state law that affords the right to vote in any election for federal office on terms less restrictive than those terms established by this Act; and (2) the rights and remedies established by this Act shall be in addition to all other rights and remedies provided by law, and shall not supersede, restrict, or limit the application of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 or the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.

This bill would prohibit any state, unit of local government, or other person from receiving or using any federal grant amounts to construct or improve a place of incarceration unless that person has a program to notify each U.S. citizen incarcerated in that person’s jurisdiction, on release from such incarceration, of that individual’s rights under this Act.

This would establish that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, such individual is serving a felony sentence in a correctional institution or facility or is on parole or probation for a felony offense.

The bill would also authorize the Attorney General or private individuals to bring civil actions to remedy violations of this Act.

The bill would also specify that: (1) nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit a state from enacting any state law that affords the right to vote in any election for federal office on terms less restrictive than those terms established by this Act; and (2) the rights and remedies established by this Act shall be in addition to all other rights and remedies provided by law, and shall not supersede, restrict, or limit the application of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 or the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.