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HB964Introduced in the House of Delegates

Voter registration; restoration of political rights upon release from incarceration.

Passed

Introduced by Marcia Price, District 85

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Voter registration; restoration of political rights upon release from incarceration; certain adjudications. Provides that any person who loses his political rights as a result of a felony conviction shall be invested with those rights upon his release from incarceration and shall be entitled to register to vote. The bill directs the Department of Corrections and the Compensation Board to transmit to the Department of Elections certain information for recently released incarcerated persons and requires the Department of Elections to process the information and make the necessary changes to the voter registration system to permit such persons to register to vote. On the date of an incarcerated person's release, the appropriate authority is required by the bill to provide a voter registration application, information on returning the form by mail or completing it by electronic means, and a document stating that he as been released from incarceration for a specified felony to serve as a safety net for voter registration. The bill also amends the language regarding adjudications of mental incompetency for purposes of being qualified to vote; a person adjudicated to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting shall not be entitled to vote until that capacity has been reestablished. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027, contingent upon the approval of the constitutional amendments at the November 3, 2026, general election. This bill is identical to SB 162.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1081)

April 22, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

5 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

5 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A) · April 22, 2026

21

Yes

18

No

1

Absent or Not Voting

40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker5Yes
Michael Jones77Yes
Timmy French1No
Mark Obenshain2No
Chris Head3Absent
David Suetterlein4No
Travis Hackworth5No
Todd Pillion6No
William Stanley7No
Mark Peake8No

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100136D

  2. Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB964)

  4. Assigned HPE sub: Voting Rights

  5. House subcommittee offered

  6. Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (6-Y 2-N)

  7. House committee offered

  8. Reported from Privileges and Elections with amendment(s) (16-Y 6-N)

  9. Read first time

  10. Read second time

  11. committee amendment agreed to

  12. Engrossed by House as amended

  13. Read third time and passed House (63-Y 34-N 0-A)

  14. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  15. Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

  16. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB964)

  17. Senate committee offered

  18. Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 7-N)

  19. Committee substitute printed 26108576D-S1

  20. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB964)

  21. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)

  22. Rules suspended

  23. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  24. Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

  25. Read third time

  26. Privileges and Elections Substitute agreed to

  27. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

  28. Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  29. Senate substitute agreed to by House (63-Y 33-N 0-A)

  30. Enrolled

  31. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB964ER)

  32. Signed by Speaker

  33. Signed by President

  34. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

  35. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  36. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB964)

  37. Governor's recommendation received by House

  38. House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 34-N 0-A)

  39. Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  40. Governor's recommendation adopted

  41. Reenrolled bill text (HB964ER2)

  42. Signed by Speaker

  43. Signed by President

  44. Approved by Governor - Chapter 1081 (effective - see bill)

  45. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1081)

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