SS1 for SB 180 would restore voting rights to many people convicted of felonies who are currently disenfranchised. This bill was up for a Senate vote last week, but got pulled from the agenda at the last minute.

Currently, there are still disqualifying felonies for which a convicted individual permanently loses the right to vote. For other felonies, individuals are eligible to re-register to vote only after completing their sentence (including probation, parole, and suspension).

This bill:

• Limits the loss of the right to vote of an individual who is convicted of a felony to the period during which the individual is imprisoned due to the felony, or until the individual is pardoned, whichever comes first.

• Removes the ability of the General Assembly to impose the forfeiture of voting rights as a punishment for a crime.

• Removes the list of felonies resulting in permanent removal of the right to vote.

Because this is a constitutional amendment, it must pass two consecutive general assemblies - that means if this bill does not pass this year, the earliest it could go into effect would be 2027.

No one's right to vote should be taken away. Email your Senators asking them to pass this bill.