RICHMOND, Va. – Today, the Right to Vote Coalition celebrated a significant milestone in the effort to enshrine automatic restoration of rights into Virginia’s constitution. The proposed amendment successfully passed through this year’s legislative session, marking a crucial step toward ensuring fairness and consistency for all Virginians, and ending the practice of permanent felony disenfranchisement, which has disqualified an estimated 9.8 percent of Virginia’s voting-age Black residents from participating in elections, and ending a huge source of disenfranchisement that has robbed too many Virginians of the right to vote.
On the House floor today, HJ2/SJ248 cleared its final vote of the session, with a tally of 55-42. While this marks the end of its journey for this year, the amendment must pass again in next year’s legislative session before heading to the ballot for a statewide vote in November 2026.
Support for this amendment has grown throughout the legislative session, reflecting critical bipartisan backing for a more just and consistent rights restoration process. No one should lose their right to vote without a chance to get it back – including people who are placed in plenary guardianships. But many do, and this amendment is critical to ensuring that all eligible Virginians are represented at the ballot box.
“The progress we’ve seen today is not just about this legislative victory — it’s about closing the book on Jim Crow-era laws in the former capital of the Confederacy,” said Michelle Moffit, Director of Civic Engagement at Virginia Civic Engagement Table. “Virginia has a chance to move into the 21st century, and this amendment is a necessary step forward in recognizing the dignity and rights of all citizens.”
While this marks a major achievement, the fight is far from over. In the months ahead, the Right to Vote Coalition will continue educating voters on the significance of this amendment, advocating for a modernized rights restoration process, and expanding our coalition to ensure even stronger support in next year’s legislative session.
To learn more about the Coalition, visit www.restorevoteva.org or email info@restorevoteva.org
