,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #ajfh  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,april #i1 #bjai,mr4   
,c>d9 7= himself1 ,ms4 ,h>ris1 ,mr4     
,book]1 ,mr4 ,leahy1 ,mr4 ,blum5?al1    
,mr4 ,re$1 ,ms4 ,w>r51 ,mr4 ,van ,holl51
 ,mr4 ,s&]s1 ,mrs4 ,murray1 ,ms4 ,smi?1 
,ms4 ,hirono1 ,ms4 ,klobu*>1 ,mrs4      
,gillibr&1 ,mr4 ,durb91 ,mr4 ,:iteh\se1 
,mr4 ,m>key1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,mr4 ,casey1  
,mr4 ,br[n1 & ,mr4 ,wyd57 introduc$ !   
foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$  
to ! ,committee on ! ,judici>y  ,a      
,,bill  ,to secure ! ,f$]al vot+ rights 
( p]sons :5 releas$ f inc>c]ation4  #a4 
,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !   
,democracy ,re/oration ,act ( #bjai4    
#b4 ,f9d+s ,congress makes ! foll[+     
f9d+s3 7#a7 ,! "r to vote is ! mo/ basic
 con/itutive act ( citiz5%ip4 ,rega9+ ! 
"r to vote re9tegrates individuals )    
crim9al convictions into free society1  
help+ to enhance public safety4  7#b7   
,article ,i1 section #d1 ( !            
,con/itution grants ,congress ultimate  

sup]visory p[] ov] ,f$]al elections1 an 
au?ority :i* has repeat$ly be5 upheld by
 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,supreme ,c\rt4  7#c7  
,basic con/itutional pr9ciples (        
fairness & equal protection require an  
equal opportunity = citiz5s ( ! ,unit$  
,/ates to vote 9 ,f$]al elections4 ,! "r
 to vote may n be abridg$ or d5i$ by !  
,unit$ ,/ates or by any ,/ate on acc\nt 
( race1 color1 g5d]1 or previ\s         
condition ( s]vitude4 ,! #ac?1 #ad?1    
#ae?1 #ai?1 #bd?1 & #bf? ,am5dm5ts to ! 
,con/itution emp[] ,congress to enact   
measures to protect ! "r to vote 9      
,f$]al elections4 ,! #h? ,am5dm5t to !  
,con/itution provides = no excessive    
bail to be requir$1 nor excessive f9es  
impos$1 nor cruel & unusual puni%m5ts   
inflict$4  7#d7 ,!re are #c areas 9 :i* 
discrepancies 9 ,/ate laws reg>d+       
crim9al convictions lead to unfairness 9
 ,f$]al elections-- 7,a7 ! lack ( a     
uni=m /&>d = vot+ 9 ,f$]al elections    
leads to an unfair disp>ity & unequal   
p>ticipation 9 ,f$]al elections bas$    

solely on :]e a p]son lives2  7,b7 laws 
gov]n+ ! re/oration ( vot+ rights aft] a
 crim9al conviction v>y ?r\gh\t ! c\ntry
 & p]sons 9 "s ,/ates c easily rega9 _! 
vot+ rights :ile 9 o!r ,/ates p]sons    
effectively lose _! "r to vote          
p]man5tly2 &  7,c7 ,/ate dis5fran*isem5t
 laws disproportionately impact racial &
 e?nic m9orities4  7#e7 ,/ate           
dis5fran*isem5t laws v>y widely4 ,two   
,/ates d n dis5fran*ise individuals )   
crim9al convictions at all4 ,9 #cd      
,/ates1 individuals ) convictions may n 
vote :ile !y are on p>ole & #cj ( ^?    
,/ates dis5fran*ise individuals on      
felony probation z well4 ,9 #ab ,/ates1 
a conviction c result 9 lifetime        
dis5fran*isem5t4  7#f7 ,sev]al ,/ates   
d5y ! "r to vote to individuals convict$
 ( c]ta9 misdemeanors4  7#g7 ,9 #bjaf1  
an e/imat$ #f1ajj1jjj citiz5s ( ! ,unit$
 ,/ates1 or ab\t #a 9 #dj adults 9 !    
,unit$ ,/ates1 c\ld n vote z a result ( 
a felony conviction4 ,( ! #f1ajj1jjj    
citiz5s b>r$ f vot+ !n1 only #bb p]c5t 7

 9 prison4 ,by contra/1 #gg p]c5t (     
p]sons dis5fran*is$ !n resid$ 9 _!      
communities :ile on probation or p>ole  
or aft] hav+ complet$ _! s5t5ces4       
,approximately #c1ajj1jjj citiz5s :o _h 
complet$ _! s5t5ces 7 dis5fran*is$ due  
to re/rictive ,/ate laws4 ,z ( ,novemb] 
#bjah1 ! lifetime ban = p]sons ) c]ta9  
felony convictions 0 elim9at$ ?r\gh a   
,florida ballot initiative4 ,z a result1
 z _m z #a1djj1jjj p are n[ eligible to 
h _! vot+ rights re/or$4 ,9 #f          
,/ates--,alabama1 ,florida1 ,k5tucky1   
,mississippi1 ,t5nessee1 & ,virg9ia--m  
?an #g p]c5t ( ! total population is    
dis5fran*is$4  7#h7 ,9 ^? ,/ates t      
dis5fran*ise individuals po/-s5t5ce1 !  
"r to vote c be rega9$ 9 !ory1 b 9      
practice ?is possibility is (t5 grant$ 9
 a non-uni=m & pot5tially discrim9atory 
mann]4 ,dis5fran*is$ individuals        
sometimes mu/ ei!r obta9 a p>don or an  
ord] f ! ,gov]nor or an action by !     
p>ole or p>don bo>d1 dep5d+ on ! (f5se &
 ,/ate4 ,individuals convict$ ( a ,f$]al

 (f5se (t5 h additional b>ri]s to rega9+
 vot+ rights4  7#i7 ,/ate               
dis5fran*isem5t laws disproportionately 
impact racial & e?nic m9orities4 ,z (   
#bjaf1 m ?an #g p]c5t ( ! vot+-age      
,african-,am]ican population1 or        
#b1bjj1jjj ,african-,am]icans1 7        
dis5fran*is$4 ,"o out ( e #ac           
,african-,am]icans 7 unable to vote     
because ( felony dis5fran*isem5t1 :i* is
 a rate m ?an #d times great] ?an       
non-,african-,am]icans4 #g4d p]c5t (    
,african-,am]icans 7 dis5fran*is$ :]eas 
#a4h p]c5t ( non-,african-,am]icans 74  
,9 #bjaf1 9 #d ,/ates--,florida 7#bc    
p]c5t71 ,k5tucky 7#bb p]c5t71 ,t5nessee 
7#ba p]c5t71 & ,virg9ia 7#bj p]c5t7--m  
?an #a 9 #e ,african-,am]icans 7 unable 
to vote because ( prior convictions4    
7#aj7 ,lat9o citiz5s are also           
disproportionately dis5fran*is$ bas$ ^u 
_! disproportionate repres5tation 9 !   
crim9al ju/ice sy/em4 ,if curr5t        
inc>c]ation tr5ds hold1 ! lifetime      
likelihood ( inc>c]ation = males born 9 

#bjja is #ag p]c5t = ,lat9os1 9 contra/ 
to less ?an #f p]c5t = non-,lat9o ,:ite 
m54 ,:5 analyz+ ! data across #aj       
,/ates1 ,lat9os g5]ally h               
disproportionately high] rates (        
dis5fran*isem5t comp>$ to _! pres5ce 9 !
 vot+ age population4 ,9 #f out ( #aj   
,/ates /udi$ 9 #bjjc1 ,lat9os con/itut$ 
m ?an #aj p]c5t ( ! total numb] ( p]sons
 dis5fran*is$ by ,/ate felony laws4 ,9  
#d ,/ates 7,cali=nia1 #cg p]c5t2 ,new   
,york1 #cd p]c5t2 ,texas1 #cj p]c5t2 &  
,arizona1 #bg p]c5t71 ,lat9os 7         
dis5fran*is$ by a rate ( m ?an #be      
p]c5t4  7#aa7 ,dis5fran*is+ citiz5s :o h
 be5 convict$ ( a crim9al (f5se & :o are
 liv+ & work+ 9 ! community s]ves no    
compell+ ,/ate int]e/ & h9d]s _!        
rehabilitation & re9tegration into      
society4  7#ab7 ,/ate dis5fran*isem5t   
laws c suppress electoral p>ticipation  
among eligible vot]s by disc\rag+ vot+  
among family & community memb]s (       
dis5fran*is$ p]sons4 ,future electoral  
p>ticipation by ! *ildr5 ( dis5fran*is$ 

p>5ts may be impact$ z well4  7#ac7 ,!  
,unit$ ,/ates is ! only ,we/]n democracy
 t p]mits ! p]man5t d5ial ( vot+ rights 
= individuals ) felony convictions4  #c4
 ,rights ( citiz5s ,! "r ( an individual
 :o is a citiz5 ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to    
vote 9 any election = ,f$]al (fice %all 
n be d5i$ or abridg$ because t          
individual has be5 convict$ ( a crim9al 
(f5se unless su* individual is s]v+ a   
felony s5t5ce 9 a correctional          
in/itution or facility at ! "t ( !      
election4  #d4 ,en=cem5t  7a7 ,attorney 
g5]al ,! ,attorney ,g5]al may1 9 a civil
 action1 obta9 su* decl>atory or        
injunctive relief z is necess>y to rem$y
 a violation ( ?is ,act4  7b7 ,private  
"r ( action  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,a p]son :o  
is aggriev$ by a violation ( ?is ,act   
may provide writt5 notice ( ! violation 
to ! *ief election (ficial ( ! ,/ate    
involv$4  7#b7 ,relief ,except z provid$
 9 p>agraph 7#c71 if ! violation is n   
correct$ )9 #ij days aft] receipt ( a   
notice "u p>agraph 7#a71 or )9 #bj days 

aft] receipt ( ! notice if ! violation  
occurr$ )9 #abj days be=e ! date ( an   
election = ,f$]al (fice1 ! aggriev$     
p]son may1 9 a civil action1 obta9      
decl>atory or injunctive relief )       
respect to ! violation4  7#c7 ,exception
 ,if ! violation occurr$ )9 #cj days    
be=e ! date ( an election = ,f$]al      
(fice1 ! aggriev$ p]son ne$ n provide   
notice to ! *ief election (ficial ( !   
,/ate "u p>agraph 7#a7 be=e br++ a civil
 action to obta9 decl>atory or          
injunctive relief ) respect to !        
violation4  #e4 ,notification (         
re/oration ( vot+ rights  7a7 ,/ate     
notification  7#a7 ,notification ,on !  
date det]m9$ "u p>agraph 7#b71 ea* ,/ate
 %all notify 9 writ+ any individual :o  
has be5 convict$ ( a crim9al (f5se "u ! 
law ( t ,/ate t su* individual has ! "r 
to vote 9 an election = ,f$]al (fice    
pursuant to ! ,democracy ,re/oration    
,act ( #bjai & may regi/] to vote 9 any 
su* election & provide su* individuals )
 any mat]ials t are necess>y to regi/]  

to vote 9 any su* election4  7#b7 ,date 
( notification  7,a7 ,felony conviction 
,9 ! case ( su* an individual :o has be5
 convict$ ( a felony1 ! notification    
requir$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 %all be giv5 on
 ! date on :i* ! individual-- 7i7 is    
s5t5c$ to s]ve only a t]m ( probation2  
or  7ii7 is releas$ f ! cu/ody ( t ,/ate
 7o!r ?an to ! cu/ody ( ano!r ,/ate or !
 ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t to s]ve a t]m (       
imprisonm5t = a felony conviction74     
7,b7 ,misdemeanor conviction ,9 ! case (
 su* an individual :o has be5 convict$ (
 a misdemeanor1 ! notification requir$  
"u p>agraph 7#a7 %all be giv5 on ! date 
on :i* su* individual is s5t5c$ by a    
,/ate c\rt4  7b7 ,f$]al notification    
7#a7 ,notification ,any individual :o   
has be5 convict$ ( a crim9al (f5se "u   
,f$]al law %all be notifi$ 9 accordance 
) p>agraph 7#b7 t su* individual has !  
"r to vote 9 an election = ,f$]al (fice 
pursuant to ! ,democracy ,re/oration    
,act ( #bjai & may regi/] to vote 9 any 
su* election4  7#b7 ,date ( notification

  7,a7 ,felony conviction ,9 ! case (   
su* an individual :o has be5 convict$ ( 
a felony1 ! notification requir$ "u     
p>agraph 7#a7 %all be giv5-- 7i7 9 !    
case ( an individual :o is s5t5c$ to    
s]ve only a t]m ( probation1 by !       
,assi/ant ,director = ! ,(fice (        
,probation & ,pretrial ,s]vices ( !     
,adm9i/rative ,(fice ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates  
,c\rts on ! date on :i* ! individual is 
s5t5c$2 or  7ii7 9 ! case ( any         
individual committ$ to ! cu/ody ( !     
,bureau ( ,prisons1 by ! ,director ( !  
,bureau ( ,prisons1 dur+ ! p]iod beg9n+ 
on ! date t is #f mon?s be=e su*        
individual is releas$ & end+ on ! date  
su* individual is releas$ f ! cu/ody ( !
 ,bureau ( ,prisons4  7,b7 ,misdemeanor 
conviction ,9 ! case ( su* an individual
 :o has be5 convict$ ( a misdemeanor1 ! 
notification requir$ "u p>agraph 7#a7   
%all be giv5 on ! date on :i* su*       
individual is s5t5c$ by a c\rt e/abli%$ 
by an ,act ( ,congress4  #f4 ,def9itions
 ,= purposes ( ?is ,act3 7#a7           

,correctional in/itution or facility ,! 
t]m correctional in/itution or facility 
means any prison1 p5it5ti>y1 jail1 or   
o!r in/itution or facility = ! conf9em5t
 ( individuals convict$ ( crim9al       
(f5ses1 :e!r publicly or privately      
op]at$1 except t su* t]m does n include 
any resid5tial community treatm5t c5t]  
7or simil> public or private facility74 
7#b7 ,election ,! t]m election means--  
7,a7 a g5]al1 special1 prim>y1 or run(f 
election2  7,b7 a conv5tion or caucus ( 
a political p>ty held to nom9ate a      
c&idate2  7,c7 a prim>y election held = 
! selection ( delegates to a national   
nom9at+ conv5tion ( a political p>ty2 or
  7,d7 a prim>y election held = !       
expression ( a pref]5ce = ! nom9ation ( 
p]sons = election to ! (fice (          
,presid5t4  7#c7 ,f$]al (fice ,! t]m    
,f$]al (fice means ! (fice ( ,presid5t  
or ,vice ,presid5t ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 or
 ( ,s5ator or ,repres5tative 91 or      
,delegate or ,resid5t ,commission] to1 !
 ,congress ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4  7#d7     

,probation ,! t]m probation means       
probation1 impos$ by a ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 or
 local c\rt1 ) or )\t a condition on !  
individual involv$ conc]n+-- 7,a7 !     
individual's fre$om ( movem5t2  7,b7 !  
paym5t ( damages by ! individual2  7,c7 
p]iodic report+ by ! individual to an   
(fic] ( ! c\rt2 or  7,d7 sup]vision ( ! 
individual by an (fic] ( ! c\rt4  #g4   
,relation to o!r laws  7a7 ,/ate laws   
relat+ to vot+ rights ,no?+ 9 ?is ,act  
%all be con/ru$ to prohibit ! ,/ates f  
enact+ any ,/ate law :i* af=ds ! "r to  
vote 9 any election = ,f$]al (fice on   
t]ms less re/rictive ?an ^? e/abli%$ by 
?is ,act4  7b7 ,c]ta9 ,f$]al ,acts ,!   
rights & rem$ies e/abli%$ by ?is ,act   
are 9 addition to all o!r rights &      
rem$ies provid$ by law1 & nei!r rights &
 rem$ies e/abli%$ by ?is ,act %all      
sup]s$e1 re/rict1 or limit ! application
 ( ! ,vot+ ,rights ,act ( #aife 7#eb    
,u4,s4,c4 #ajcja et seq471 ! ,national  
,vot] ,regi/ration ,act 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4  
#bjeja71 or ! ,help ,am]ica ,vote ,act (

 #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjija et seq474  
#h4 ,f$]al prison funds ,no ,/ate1 unit 
( local gov]nm5t1 or o!r p]son may      
receive or use1 to con/ruct or o!rwise  
improve a prison1 jail1 or o!r place (  
inc>c]ation1 any ,f$]al funds unless t  
,/ate1 unit ( local gov]nm5t1 or p]son--
 7#a7 is 9 compliance ) section #c2 &   
7#b7 has 9 effect a program "u :i* ea*  
individual inc>c]at$ 9 t p]son's        
jurisdiction :o is a citiz5 ( ! ,unit$  
,/ates is notifi$1 ^u release f su*     
inc>c]ation1 ( t individual's rights "u 
section #c4  #i4 ,effective date ,?is   
,act %all apply to citiz5s ( ! ,unit$   
,/ates vot+ 9 any election = ,f$]al     
(fice held on or aft] ! date ( !        
enactm5t ( ?is ,act4