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S 1588 115th Congress Senate

Democracy Restoration Act of 2017

Official title: A bill to secure Federal voting rights of persons when released from incarceration.

Introduced: July 19, 2017 See on congress.gov
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Civil actions and liabilityCorrectional facilities and imprisonmentCriminal procedure and sentencingLaw enforcement administration and fundingVoting rights
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 19, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Jul 19, 2017
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action July 19, 2017

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Democracy Restoration Act of 2017

This bill establishes that an individual's right to vote in a federal election may not be abridged due to a criminal conviction unless the individual is incarcerated for a felony sentence at the time of the election. The bill also (1) requires incarcerated individuals to be notified of the restoration of their voting rights upon release, and (2) prohibits states and local governments that do not comply with this bill from receiving federal funds for constructing or improving prisons.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 6612 Related bill Democracy Restoration Act of 2018
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 16
All 16 Democratic 15 Independent 1
D
Reed, Jack
Rhode Island · Jul 26, 2018
 D
Smith, Tina
Minnesota · Jan 10, 2018
 D
Gillibrand, Kirsten E.
New York · Jul 20, 2017
 D
Merkley, Jeff
Oregon · Jul 20, 2017
 D
Blumenthal, Richard
Connecticut · Jul 19, 2017
 D
Booker, Cory A.
New Jersey · Jul 19, 2017
 D
Coons, Christopher A.
Delaware · Jul 19, 2017
 D
Duckworth, Tammy
Illinois · Jul 19, 2017
 D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Jul 19, 2017
 D
Hirono, Mazie K.
Hawaii · Jul 19, 2017
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Jul 19, 2017
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Jul 19, 2017
 D
Van Hollen, Chris
Maryland · Jul 19, 2017
 D
Warren, Elizabeth
Massachusetts · Jul 19, 2017
 D
Whitehouse, Sheldon
Rhode Island · Jul 19, 2017
 D
Wyden, Ron
Oregon · Jul 19, 2017
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1588: Democracy Restoration Act of 2017. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-1588/
MLA
"S. 1588: Democracy Restoration Act of 2017." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-1588/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1588, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-1588/.
Markdown link
[S. 1588: Democracy Restoration Act of 2017](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-1588/)
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