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S 481 117th Congress Senate Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Civil actions and liability Correctional facilities and imprisonment Criminal procedure and sentencing Law enforcement administration and funding Voting rights

Democracy Restoration Act of 2021

Introduced: February 25, 2021 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) 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
Feb 25, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 25, 2021
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Democracy Restoration Act of 2021

This bill addresses the voting rights of individuals convicted of a criminal offense and the restoration of their voting rights.

First, the bill 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. Further, the bill provides for enforcement of, and remedies for violations of, the bill.

In addition, it sets forth requirements for state and federal notification of individuals of the restoration of their voting rights.

Finally, the bill prohibits federal funding of construction or improvement of a place of incarceration unless U.S. citizens incarcerated in that jurisdiction are notified, upon release, of their voting rights.

What's happening now February 25, 2021

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Related & companion bills 6
 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. 481: Democracy Restoration Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-481/
MLA
"S. 481: Democracy Restoration Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-481/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 481, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-481/.
Markdown link
[S. 481: Democracy Restoration Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-481/)
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