,,ii  #aah? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #afgg  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,may #ah1 #bjbc,mr4    
,c>d9 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,s*atz1 ,mr4     
,padilla1 ,mr4 ,casey1 ,mrs4 ,fe9/e91   
,ms4 ,w>r51 ,mr4 ,m>key1 ,mr4 ,m55dez1  
,ms4 ,smi?1 ,mr4 ,wel*1 ,ms4 ,baldw91   
,mr4 ,book]1 ,mr4 ,blum5?al1 ,ms4       
,klobu*>1 ,mr4 ,s&]s1 ,mrs4 ,murray1    
,mr4 ,wyd51 ,mr4 ,van ,holl51 ,ms4      
,hirono1 ,mrs4 ,%ahe51 ,mr4 ,ka9e1 ,mr4 
,br[n1 & ,mr4 ,durb97 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 ( #bjbc4    
#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 7,ma9e & ,v]mont7 & !            
,commonweal? ( ,pu]to ,rico d n         
dis5fran*ise individuals ) crim9al      
convictions at all4 ,9 #bjbj1 ! ,di/rict
 ( ,columbia re-enfran*is$ its citiz5s  
:o are "u ! sup]vision ( ! ,f$]al       
,bureau ( ,prisons4 ,tw5ty-five ,/ates  
dis5fran*ise c]ta9 individuals on felony
 probation or p>ole4 ,dur+ #bjbc1       
lawmak]s 9 ,m9nesota & ,new ,mexico     
exp&$ vot+ rights to citiz5s on felony  
probation & p>ole4 ,9 #aa ,/ates1 a     
conviction = c]ta9 (f5ses c result 9    
lifetime dis5fran*isem5t4  7#f7 ,sev]al 

,/ates d5y ! "r to vote to individuals  
convict$ ( c]ta9 misdemeanors4  7#g7 ,9 
#bjbb1 ov] #d1fjj1jjj citiz5s ( ! ,unit$
 ,/ates1 or ab\t #a 9 #ej adults 9 !    
,unit$ ,/ates1 c\ld n vote z a result ( 
a felony conviction4 ,( ! #d1fjj1jjj    
citiz5s b>r$ f vot+ !n1 only #bc p]c5t 7
 9 prison or jail4 ,by contra/1 #ge     
p]c5t ( p]sons dis5fran*is$ !n resid$ 9 
_! communities :ile on probation or     
p>ole or aft] hav+ complet$ _! s5t5ces4 
,approximately #b1bjj1jjj citiz5s :o _h 
complet$ _! s5t5ces 7 dis5fran*is$ due  
to re/rictive ,/ate laws4 ,ov] #icj1jjj 
,floridians :o complet$ _! s5t5ce rema9 
dis5fran*is$ because ( a pay-to-vote    
requirem5t t 0 enact$ by ,florida       
lawmak]s 9 #bjai to und]m9e ! impact ( a
 #bjah ballot initiative t elim9at$ !   
lifetime ban = p]sons ) c]ta9 felony    
convictions4 ,9 #c ,/ates--,alabama1    
,mississippi1 & ,t5nessee--m ?an #h     
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 ,f9ancial re/rictions may also  
inhibit individuals :o h complet$ _!    
s5t5ces f re-enfran*isem5t4 ,individuals
 convict$ ( a ,f$]al (f5se (t5 h        
additional b>ri]s to rega9+ vot+ rights4
  7#i7 ,_m felony dis5fran*isem5t laws  
today d]ive directly f po/-,civil ,w>   
ef=ts to /ifle ! ,f\rte5? & ,fifte5?    
,am5dm5ts4 ,betwe5 #ahfe & #ahhj1 at    
lea/ #ad ,/ates--,alabama1 ,arkansas1   
,colorado1 ,florida1 ,georgia1 ,ill9ois1
 ,mississippi1 ,miss\ri1 ,nebraska1 ,new
 ,york1 ,nor? ,c>ol9a1 ,s\? ,c>ol9a1    
,t5nessee1 & ,texas--enact$ or exp&$ _! 
felony dis5fran*isem5t laws4 ,"o ( !    
prim>y goals ( ^! laws 0 to prev5t      
,african ,am]icans f vot+4 ,( ! ,/ates t
 enact$ or exp&$ _! felony              

dis5fran*isem5t laws dur+ ?is po/-,civil
 ,w> p]iod1 at lea/ #aa cont9ue to      
preclude p]sons on felony probation or  
p>ole f vot+4  7#aj7 ,/ate              
dis5fran*isem5t laws disproportionately 
impact racial & e?nic m9orities4 ,9     
rec5t ye>s1 ,african ,am]icans h be5    
imprison$ at ov] #e times ! rate (      
,:ites4 ,m ?an #f p]c5t ( ! vot+-age    
,african-,am]ican population1 or        
#a1hjj1jjj ,african ,am]icans1 are      
dis5fran*is$ due to a felony conviction4
 ,9 #i ,/ates--,alabama 7#af p]c5t71    
,arizona 7#ac p]c5t71 ,florida 7#ae     
p]c5t71 ,k5tucky 7#ae p]c5t71           
,mississippi 7#af p]c5t71 ,s\? ,dakota  
7#ad p]c5t71 ,t5nessee 7#ba p]c5t71     
,virg9ia 7#af p]c5t71 & ,wyom+ 7#cf     
p]c5t7--m ?an #a 9 #h ,african ,am]icans
 are unable to vote because ( a felony  
conviction1 twice ! national av]age =   
,african ,am]icans4  7#aa7 ,lat9o       
citiz5s are also disproportionately     
dis5fran*is$ bas$ ^u _! disproportionate
 repres5tation 9 ! crim9al ju/ice sy/em4

 ,al?\gh data on e?nicity 9 correctional
 populations are unev5ly report$ &      
und]c\nt$ 9 "s ,/ates1 a cons]vative    
e/imate is t at lea/ #ejf1jjj ,lat9o    
,am]icans or #a4g p]c5t ( ! vot+-age    
population are dis5fran*is$4 ,m ?an #b  
p]c5t ( ! vot+-age ,lat9o population1 or
 #efj1jjj ,lat9os1 are dis5fran*is$ due 
to a felony conviction4 ,9 #ca ,/ates   
,lat9os are dis5fran*is$ at a high] rate
 ?an ! g5]al population4 ,9 ,arizona &  
,t5nessee ov] #f p]c5t ( ,lat9o vot]s   
are dis5fran*is$ due to a felony        
conviction4  7#ab7 ,wom5 h be5          
significantly impact$ by mass           
inc>c]ation s9ce ! e>ly #aihjs4         
,approximately #a1jjj1jjj wom5 7        
dis5fran*is$ 9 #bjbb1 compris+ ov] #bj  
p]c5t ( ! total dis5fran*is$ population4
  7#ac7 ,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 ,models (  
successful re-entry = p]sons convict$ ( 

a crime emphasize ! importance (        
community ties1 feel+ ve/$ & integrat$1 
& prosocial attitudes4 ,individuals )   
crim9al convictions :o succe$ 9 avoid+  
recidivism are typically m likely to see
 !mselves z law-abid+ memb]s ( !        
community4 ,re/oration ( vot+ rights    
builds ^? qualities & facilitates       
re9tegration into ! community4 ,t is :y 
all[+ citiz5s ) crim9al convictions :o  
are liv+ 9 a community to vote is       
correlat$ ) a l[] likelihood (          
recidivism4 ,re/oration ( vot+ rights   
?us r$uces viol5ce & protects public    
safety4  7#ad7 ,/ate dis5fran*isem5t    
laws c suppress electoral p>ticipation  
among eligible vot]s by disc\rag+ vot+  
among family & community memb]s (       
dis5fran*is$ p]sons4 ,future electoral  
p>ticipation by ! *ildr5 ( dis5fran*is$ 
p>5ts may be impact$ z well4  7#ae7 ,!  
,unit$ ,/ates is "o ( ! only ,we/]n     
democracies t p]mits ! p]man5t d5ial (  
vot+ rights = individuals ) felony      
convictions4  7#af7 ,! ,eigh? ,am5dm5t's

 prohibition on cruel & unusual         
puni%m5ts gu>antees individuals ! "r n  
to be subject$ to excessive sanctions4  
7,rop] v4 ,simmons1 #edc ,u4,s4 #eea1   
#efj 7#bjje774 ,t "r /ems f ! basic     
precept ( ju/ice t puni%m5t = crime %\ld
 be graduat$ & proportion$ to ! (f5se4  
,id4 7quot+ ,weems v4 ,unit$ ,/ates1    
#bag ,u4,s4 #cdi1 #cfg 7#aiaj774 ,z !   
,supreme ,c\rt has long recogniz$1 the  
concept ( proportionality is c5tral to !
 ,eigh? ,am5dm5t4 7,graham v4 ,florida1 
#efj ,u4,s4 #dh1 #ei 7#bjaj774 ,_m ,/ate
 dis5fran*isem5t laws are grossly       
disproportional to ! (f5ses t lead to   
dis5fran*isem5t & ?us violate ! b> on   
cruel & unusual puni%m5ts4 ,= example1 a
 numb] ( ,/ates m&ate lifetime          
dis5fran*isem5t = a s+le felony         
conviction or j two felony convictions1 
ev5 :]e ! convictions 7 = non-viol5t    
(f5ses4 ,9 num]\s o!r ,/ates1           
dis5fran*isem5t c la/ ye>s or ev5       
decades :ile individuals rema9 on       
probation or p>ole1 (t5 only because a  

p]son _c pay _! legal f9ancial          
obligations4 ,^! k9ds ( extreme vot+    
bans run af\l ( ! ,eigh? ,am5dm5t4      
7#ag7 ,! ,tw5ty-,f\r? ,am5dm5t provides 
t ! "r to vote %all n be d5i$ or abridg$
 by ! ,unit$ ,/ates or any ,/ate by     
reason ( failure to pay any poll tax or 
o!r tax4 ,section #b ( ! ,tw5ty-,f\r?   
,am5dm5t gives ,congress ! p[] to en=ce 
?is article by appropriate legislation4 
,c\rt f9es & fees t individuals mu/ pay 
to h _! vot+ rights re/or$ con/itute an 
o!r tax = purposes ( ! ,tw5ty-,f\r?     
,am5dm5t4 ,at lea/ five ,/ates          
explicitly require ! paym5t ( f9es &    
fees be=e individuals ) felony          
convictions c h _! vot+ rights re/or$4  
,m ?an #bj o!r ,/ates effectively tie ! 
"r to vote to ! paym5t ( f9es & fees1 by
 requir+ t individuals complete _!      
probation or p>ole be=e _! rights are   
re/or$4 ,9 ^! ,/ates1 ! non-paym5t (    
f9es & fees is a basis on :i* probation 
or p>ole c be ext5d$4 ,moreov]1 ^!      
,/ates sometimes d n record ! basis on  

:i* an individual's probation or p>ole 0
 ext5d$1 mak+ x impossible to det]m9e f 
! ,/ate's records :e!r non-paym5t ( f9es
 & fees is ! reason t an individual     
rema9s on probation or p>ole4 ,= ^!     
reasons1 ! only way to ensure t ,/ates d
 n d5y ! "r to vote bas$ solely on      
non-paym5t ( f9es & fees is to prev5t   
,/ates f condition+ vot+ rights on !    
completion ( probation or p>ole4  #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$]al (fice    
pursuant to ! ,democracy ,re/oration    
,act ( #bjbc & may regi/] to vote 9 any 
su* election & provide su* individuals )
 any mat]ials t are necess>y to regi/]  
to vote 9 any su* election4  7#b7 ,date 
( notification  7,a7 ,felony conviction 
,9 ! case ( su* an individual :o has be5
 convict$ ( 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$]al (fice 
pursuant to ! ,democracy ,re/oration    
,act ( #bjbc & may regi/] to vote 9 any 
su* election4  7#b7 ,date ( notification
  7,a7 ,felony conviction ,9 ! case (   
su* an individual :o has be5 convict$ ( 
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 any ,/ate 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