,,ii  #aah? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #dbag  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,april #cj1 #bjbd,ms4  
,butl] 7= h]self1 ,mr4 ,book]1 ,ms4     
,klobu*>1 ,mr4 ,wel*1 ,mr4 ,wyd51 ,ms4  
,hirono1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,ms4 ,duckwor?1   
,ms4 ,smi?1 ,mr4 ,m>key1 ,mr4 ,van      
,holl51 & ,mr4 ,m]kley7 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]ation "u !  
,fir/ ,/ep ,act4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is  
,act may be cit$ z ! ,next ,/ep ,home   
,act4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds !      
foll[+3 7#a7 ,! recidivism rates (      
b5efici>ies ( ! ,fir/ ,/ep ,act 7,public
 ,law #aae-cia2 #acb ,/at4 #eaid7 is    
only #ab4d p]c5t comp>$ to ! ov]all     
recidivism rate ( #dc p]c5t = prison]s 9
 prisons op]at$ by ! ,bureau ( ,prisons4
  7#b7 ,! success ( mo/ individuals     
releas$ "u ! ,fir/ ,/ep ,act 7,public   
,law #aae-cia2 #acb ,/at4 #eaid7        
demon/rates t r$uc+ ! population 9      

ov]cr[d$ ,f$]al prisons c be done safely
 & effectively4  7#c7 ,ext5d+ ! ,f$]al  
fran*ise to individuals ) crim9al       
convictions w fur!r r$uce recidivism    
rates4  7#d7 ,basic con/itutional       
pr9ciples ( fairness & equal protection 
require an equal opportunity = citiz5s (
 ! ,unit$ ,/ates to vote 9 ,f$]al       
elections4  7#e7 ,section #d ( article  
,i ( ! ,con/itution ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates   
grants ,congress ultimate sup]visory p[]
 ov] ,f$]al elections1 an au?ority :i*  
has repeat$ly be5 upheld by ! ,supreme  
,c\rt ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4  7#f7 ,! ,eigh?
 ,am5dm5t to ! ,con/itution ( ! ,unit$  
,/ates1 :i* prohibits excessive bail1 ! 
imposition ( excessive f9es1 & !        
infliction ( cruel & unusual puni%m5ts1 
also moves ,congress to act :5 lifetime 
felony vot+ bans are us$ to mi/reat ^? )
 felony convictions4  7#g7 ,! #ac?1     
#ad?1 #ae?1 #ai?1 #bd?1 & #bf? am5dm5ts 
to ! ,con/itution ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates     
emp[] ,congress to enact measures t     
fur!r protect ! "r to vote 9 ,f$]al     

elections1 & codify ! pr9ciple t ! "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  7#h7 ,congress   
also has indep5d5t au?ority "u ! #ad?1  
#ae?1 #ai?1 #bd?1 & #bf? am5dm5ts to !  
,con/itution ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to ensure
 elections are conduct$ )\t unlawful    
discrim9ation4 ,"u ^! am5dm5ts1         
,congress has ! duty to act :5 inc>c]at$
 individuals are treat$ z second-class  
citiz5s ?r\gh ! d5ial ( ! vote4  7#i7 ,!
 ,recon/ruction ,am5dm5ts specifically1 
:i* include ! #ac?1 #ad?1 & #ae?        
am5dm5ts to ! ,con/itution ( ! ,unit$   
,/ates1 require full legal & political  
equality = =m] slaves & _! prog5y1 _m ( 
:om are individuals ) crim9al           
convictions today4  7#aj7 ,! #ad?       
,am5dm5t to ! ,con/itution ( ! ,unit$   
,/ates /&s out z p]haps ! mo/ important 
am5dm5t giv5 ! ,equal ,protection       
,clause 9 section #a has be5 ! basis on 
:i* ,f$]al c\rts h be5 able to /rike d[n

 laws & practices t int5tionally        
discrim9ate on ! basis ( race4 ,! rate  
at :i* ,black m5 are imprison$ 9 ,f$]al 
facilities 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates raises     
,equal ,protection conc]ns giv5 t _!    
imprisonm5t rema9s _m times t ( _! ,:ite
 c\nt]p>ts & m ?an d\ble t ( ! ,hispanic
 male population1 %[+ huge racial       
discrepancies 9 ! crim9al ju/ice sy/em4 
7#aa7 ,additionally1 accord+ to s*ol>s  
su* z ,h5ry ,*amb]s1 ,a reasonably robu/
 vision ( ! ,fifte5? ,am5dm5t focuses on
 ! political equality t %\ld h be5 !    
culm9ation ( ! ,recon/ruction ,am5dm5ts4
 ,t vision requires t rules & proc$ures 
t limit ! political equality ( m9ority  
gr\ps be ju/ifi$ z necess>y = !         
function+ ( ! electoral sy/em1 n t !y   
m]ely appe> colorbl9d4 ,su* a read+ ( ! 
,fifte5? ,am5dm5t may appe> to require  
affirmative action on ! "p ( ,/ates to  
gu>antee m9ority repres5tation & might  
appe> to conflict ) an equally robu/    
read+ ( ! ,f\rte5? ,am5dm5t & its       
suppos$ colorbl9d pr9ciple4 ,if ?is is !

 case1 s be x44  7#ab7 ,! ,civil ,rights
 ,act ( #aifd 7,public ,law #hh-ceb2 #gh
 ,/at4 #bda7 & ! ,vot+ ,rights ,act     
#aife 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #ajcja et seq47    
also ext5d ! au?ority to ,congress to   
cont9ue to ex]cise its con/itutional    
au?ority 9 ?is space z appropriate4     
7#ac7 ,congress is also mov$ to act giv5
 ! discrepancies 9 ,/ate laws reg>d+    
crim9al convictions lead+ to unfairness 
9 ,f$]al elections4 ,z ( #bjbd1 #dh     
,/ates h ei!r tempor>ily or p]man5tly   
bann$ individuals ) felony convictions f
 vot+ :ile ! ,di/rict ( ,columbia1 !    
,commonweal? ( ,pu]to ,rico1 & #b       
,/ates1 ,ma9e & ,v]mont1 ensure ^!      
individuals reta9 ! fran*ise ev5 :ile !y
 are inc>c]at$4  7#ad7 ,9 #bc ,/ates1   
individuals ) felony convictions lose _!
 access to ! fran*ise only :ile         
inc>c]at$ & get _! "r to vote           
automatically re/or$ once _! prison     
s5t5ce is complet$4 ,^! ,/ates are      
,cali=nia1 ,colorado1 ,connecticut1     
,hawaii1 ,ill9ois1 ,indiana1 ,m>yl&1    

,massa*usetts1 ,mi*igan1 ,m9nesota1     
,montana1 ,nevada1 ,new ,hamp%ire1 ,new 
,j]sey1 ,new ,york1 ,new ,mexico1 ,nor? 
,dakota1 ,ohio1 ,oregon1 ,p5nsylvania1  
,rhode ,isl&1 ,utah1 & ,wa%+ton4  7#ae7 
,! rema9+ #be ,/ates h vot+ laws on !   
books t are less fri5dly t[>ds          
individuals ) prior felony convictions4 
,9 #ad ,/ates1 individuals ) felony     
convictions typically h _! vot+ rights  
re/or$ aft] p>ole or probation is       
complet$4 ,^! ,/ates are ,alaska1       
,arkansas1 ,georgia1 ,idaho1 ,kansas1   
,l\isiana1 ,miss\ri1 ,nor? ,c>ol9a1     
,oklahoma1 ,s\? ,c>ol9a1 ,s\? ,dakota1  
,texas1 ,we/ ,virg9ia1 & ,wiscons94 ,9 !
 rema9+ #aa ,/ates1 individuals ) felony
 convictions lose _! vot+ rights        
indef9itely = "s crimes or require !    
p>don ( a ,gov]nor to get _! access to !
 fran*ise re/or$4 ,^! ,/ates are        
,alabama1 ,arizona1 ,delaw>e1 ,florida1 
,i[a1 ,k5tucky1 ,mississippi1 ,nebraska1
 ,t5nessee1 ,virg9ia1 & ,wyom+4  7#af7  
,despite _! dis5fran*isem5t1 individuals

 ) felony convictions cont9ue to be     
c\nt$ z "p ( ,/ate populations =        
repres5tation purposes 9 ,congress & = !
 ,electoral ,college4 ,accord+ to au?or 
,mi*elle ,alex&] 9 ,! ,new ,jim ,cr[1   
,the ,c5sus ,bureau c\nts imprison$     
individuals z resid5ts ( ! jurisdiction 
9 :i* !y are inc>c]at$ ?r\gh !          
usual-resid5ce rule44  7#ag7            
,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#ah7       
,f9ally1 ! "r to vote is ! mo/ basic    
con/itutive act ( citiz5%ip4 ,re/or+    
vot+ rights 9 ,f$]al elections to       
individuals ) felony convictions w bett]
 integrate ^! individuals into free     
society1 improve public safety1 /r5g!n !
 ov]all re5try process 9 ! ,unit$       
,/ates1 & move ! ,unit$ ,/ates clos] to 
realiz+ ! rehabilitative goals ( its    
brok5 c>c]al sy/em4  #c4 ,def9itions ,= 
purposes ( ?is ,act3 7#a7 ,cov]$        

individual ,! t]m cov]$ individual means
 an individual :o-- 7,a7 completes s]v+ 
a s5t5ce = a conviction "u a ,f$]al     
crim9al law on or aft] ,decemb] #ba1    
#bjah2 &  7,b7 7i7 has "t cr$its appli$ 
t[>d "t 9 pr]elease cu/ody or sup]vis$  
release pursuant to section             
#cfcb7;d77#d77;,c7 ( title #ah1 ,unit$  
,/ates ,code2  7ii7 on or aft] !        
effective date ( ! am5dm5ts made by     
section #ajb7;b7 ( ! ,fir/ ,/ep ,act (  
#bjah 7,public ,law #aae-cia2 #acb ,/at4
 #ebaj71 receives cr$it t[>d ! s]vice ( 
! s5t5ce ( ! individual "u section      
#cfbd7;b77#a7 ( title #ah1 ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,code2  7iii7 is plac$ 9 pr]elease     
cu/ody or sup]vis$ release "u section   
#cfbd7;g7 ( title #ah1 ,unit$ ,/ates    
,code2  7iv7 on or aft] ,decemb] #ba1   
#bjah-- 7,i7 commits a violation (      
section #dja7;b77#a7 ( ! ,controll$     
,sub/ances ,act 7#ba ,u4,s4,c4          
#hda7;b77#a77 or section #ajaj7;b7 ( !  
,controll$ ,sub/ances ,import & ,export 
,act 7#ba ,u4,s4,c4 #ijf7;b77 aft] a    

prior conviction = a s]i\s drug felony  
or s]i\s viol5t felony1 z ^? t]ms are   
def9$ 9 section #ajb ( ! ,controll$     
,sub/ances ,act 7#ba ,u4,s4,c4 #hjb72 & 
7,,ii7 is s5t5c$ = a violation describ$ 
9 subclause 7,i72  7v7 is s5t5c$        
pursuant to section #ceec7;f7 ( title   
#ah1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 = a conviction
 ent]$ on or aft] ,decemb] #ba1 #bjah2  
7vi7 is s5t5c$ pursuant to section      
#ibd7;c77#a77;,c7 ( title #ah1 ,unit$   
,/ates ,code1 = an (f5se-- 7,i7 committ$
 be=e ,decemb] #ba1 #bjah2 &  7,,ii7 =  
:i* a s5t5ce 0 n impos$ be=e ,decemb]   
#ba1 #bjah2  7vii7 receives a r$uc$     
s5t5ce "u section #djd ( ! ,fir/ ,/ep   
,act ( #bjah 7,public ,law #aae-cia2    
#acb ,/at4 #ebbb72  7viii7 7,i7 is an   
eligible eld]ly (f5d]1 z def9$ 9 section
 #bca7;g77#e7 ( ! ,second ,*ance ,act ( 
#bjjg 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #fjeda7;g77#e772 & 
7,,ii7 is plac$ 9 home det5tion pursuant
 to section #bca7;g7 ( ! ,second ,*ance 
,act ( #bjjg 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #fjeda7;g772
 or  7ix7 receives a r$uc$ t]m (        

imprisonm5t ^u motion ( ! individual "u 
section #cehb7;c77#a77;,a7 ( title #ah1 
,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  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$]al c\rt ) or )\t a condition on !   
cov]$ 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  #d4   
,rights ( citiz5s ,! "r ( a cov]$       
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 (f5se4  #e4 ,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  #f4 ,notification (         
re/oration ( vot+ rights  7a7           
,notification ,any cov]$ individual :o  
has be5 convict$ ( a crim9al (f5se "u   
,f$]al law %all be notifi$ 9 accordance 
) subsection 7b7 t su* individual has ! 
"r to vote 9 an election = ,f$]al (fice 
pursuant to ! ,next ,/ep ,home ,act &   
may regi/] to vote 9 any su* election4  
7b7 ,date ( notification  7#a7 ,felony  
conviction ,9 ! case ( su* an cov]$     
individual :o has be5 convict$ ( a      
felony1 ! notification requir$ "u       
subsection 7a7 %all be giv5-- 7,a7 9 !  
case ( an cov]$ 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$2 or  7,b7 9 ! case ( any cov]$   
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* a cov]$      
individual :o has be5 convict$ ( a      
misdemeanor1 ! notification requir$ "u  
subsection 7a7 %all be giv5 on ! date on
 :i* su* individual is s5t5c$ by a c\rt 
e/abli%$ by an ,act ( ,congress4  #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$]al funds unless t  
,/ate1 unit ( local gov]nm5t1 or p]son--
 7#a7 is 9 compliance ) section #d2 &   
7#b7 has 9 effect a program "u :i* ea*  
cov]$ individual inc>c]at$ 9 t p]son's  
jurisdiction :o is a citiz5 ( ! ,unit$  
,/ates is notifi$1 ^u release f su*     
inc>c]ation1 ( t individual's rights "u 
section #d4  #i4 ,effective date ,?is   
,act %all apply to citiz5s ( ! ,unit$   
,/ates vot+ 9 any election = ,f$]al     
(fice held on or aft] ! date ( !        

enactm5t ( ?is ,act4