Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB4987

Introduced
7/27/23  

Caption

Democracy Restoration Act of 2023

Impact

If enacted, HB4987 would prevent states from denying voting rights to citizens solely based on felony convictions unless they are currently incarcerated. It establishes that individuals on probation or parole retain the right to vote, addressing disparities in state laws that reflect a patchwork of regulations regarding voter eligibility post-conviction. The bill’s enforcement mechanism empowers individuals to initiate civil actions against states that violate these provisions, thereby safeguarding their rights more vigorously than many existing frameworks permit. Furthermore, states would be required to notify individuals about their voting rights upon release from incarceration, which aims to facilitate better voter registration processes.

Summary

House Bill 4987, titled the Democracy Restoration Act of 2023, aims to restore federal voting rights to individuals with felony convictions who have completed their prison sentences. The bill asserts that the right to vote is a fundamental aspect of citizenship and emphasizes that regaining this right can significantly aid in the reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals into society, ultimately promoting public safety. The legislation seeks to eliminate laws that disproportionately disenfranchise individuals based on race and socio-economic status, arguing that current disenfranchisement practices often hinder community engagement and the rehabilitation process.

Contention

Critics of the bill argue that it may undermine state authority to regulate elections and that reinstating voting rights for all individuals with felony convictions could lead to unintended consequences in electoral processes. Supporters counter that the current laws disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities, exacerbating systemic inequalities within the political system. The centralized approach of HB4987 aims to ensure fairness and equal representation, raising concerns among opponents about the balance of power between federal and state governance in managing voting rights. The legislation underscores a critical debate about the intersection of criminal justice reform and electoral participation in the United States.

Companion Bills

US SB1677

Same As Democracy Restoration Act of 2023

US HB11

Related Freedom to Vote Act This bill addresses voter registration and voting access, election integrity and security, redistricting, and campaign finance. Specifically, the bill expands voter registration (e.g., automatic and same-day registration) and voting access (e.g., vote-by-mail and early voting). It also limits removing voters from voter rolls. Next, the bill establishes Election Day as a federal holiday. 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. The bill establishes certain federal criminal offenses related to voting. In particular, the bill establishes a new criminal offense for conduct (or attempted conduct) to corruptly hinder, interfere with, or prevent another person from registering to vote or helping someone register to vote. Additionally, the bill sets forth provisions related to election security, including by requiring states to conduct post-election audits for federal elections. The bill outlines criteria for congressional redistricting and generally prohibits mid-decade redistricting. The bill addresses campaign finance, including by expanding the prohibition on campaign spending by foreign nationals, requiring additional disclosure of campaign-related fundraising and spending, requiring additional disclaimers regarding certain political advertising, and establishing an alternative campaign funding system for certain federal offices.

US SB2344

Related Freedom to Vote Act Voters’ Access to Water Act Right to Vote Act Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2023 Help America Run Act Government By the People Act of 2023 Restoring Integrity to America’s Elections Act Stop Super PAC–Candidate Coordination Act Spotlight Act Honest Ads Act DISCLOSE Act of 2023 Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2023 Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2023 Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2023 Democracy Restoration Act of 2023 Voter Registration Modernization Act of 2023 Voter Empowerment Act of 2023

US SB1

Related Freedom to Vote Act This bill addresses voter registration and voting access, election integrity and security, redistricting, and campaign finance. Specifically, the bill expands voter registration (e.g., automatic and same-day registration) and voting access (e.g., vote-by-mail and early voting). It also limits removing voters from voter rolls. Next, the bill establishes Election Day as a federal holiday. 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. The bill establishes certain federal criminal offenses related to voting. In particular, the bill establishes a new criminal offense for conduct (or attempted conduct) to corruptly hinder, interfere with, or prevent another person from registering to vote or helping someone register to vote. Additionally, the bill sets forth provisions related to election security, including by requiring states to conduct post-election audits for federal elections. The bill outlines criteria for congressional redistricting and generally prohibits mid-decade redistricting. The bill addresses campaign finance, including by expanding the prohibition on campaign spending by foreign nationals, requiring additional disclosure of campaign-related fundraising and spending, requiring additional disclaimers regarding certain political advertising, and establishing an alternative campaign funding system for certain federal offices.

Similar Bills

US HR340

Recognizing the disenfranchisement of District of Columbia residents, calling for statehood for the District of Columbia through the enactment of the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, and expressing support for the designation of May 1, 2023, as "D.C. Statehood Day".

US HR40

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the violent insurrection at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.

US SB1677

Democracy Restoration Act of 2023

NJ A5474

Defines conduct which constitutes voter disenfranchisement and establishes penalties therefor; authorizes private cause of action for voter disenfranchisement; creates Independent Election Oversight Committee; establishes public awareness campaign on voting rights; appropriates $100,000.

SC H3006

Felon voting rights

US HCR44

Urging the establishment of a United States Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation.

US SCR19

A concurrent resolution urging the establishment of a United States Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation.

MS SB2631

Suffrage; restoration upon completion of sentence and other conditions for individuals convicted of nonviolent crimes.