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S 1516 111th Congress Senate

Democracy Restoration Act of 2009

Official title: A bill to secure the Federal voting rights of persons who have been released from incarceration.

Introduced: March 11, 2010 See on congress.gov
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Civil actions and liabilityCriminal procedure and sentencingVoting rights
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 24, 2009
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8096-8097)
Jul 24, 2009
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8095-8096)
Jul 24, 2009
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action July 24, 2009

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8096-8097)

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Democracy Restoration Act of 2009 - Declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, such individual is serving a felony sentence in a correctional institution or facility. Provides for enforcement and remedies for violations of this Act.

Specifies that: (1) nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit a state from enacting any state law that affords the right to vote in any election for federal office on terms less restrictive than those terms established by this Act; and (2) the rights and remedies established by this Act shall be in addition to all other rights and remedies provided by law, and shall not supersede, restrict, or limit the application of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 or the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.

Prohibits any state, unit of local government, or other person from receiving or using any federal grant amounts to construct or improve a place of incarceration unless that person has a program to notify each U.S. citizen incarcerated in that person's jurisdiction, on release from such incarceration, of that individual's rights under this Act.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1516: Democracy Restoration Act of 2009. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1516/
MLA
"S. 1516: Democracy Restoration Act of 2009." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1516/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1516, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1516/.
Markdown link
[S. 1516: Democracy Restoration Act of 2009](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1516/)
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