# Democracy Restoration Act of 2023: What It Actually Does

This bill would restore voting rights in federal elections to people with criminal convictions who are no longer in prison. Right now, the rules about who can vote after a conviction vary wildly from state to state—some states let people vote immediately after release, while others ban voting for life, even after someone has completed their sentence and is living back in their community. This bill would create one uniform federal rule: if you're not currently locked up in a prison or jail, you can vote in federal elections (for president, Congress, etc.), regardless of what state you live in or what your criminal history is.

The practical impact would be significant. Currently, about 4.6 million Americans can't vote because of a felony conviction—that's roughly 1 in 50 adults. Most of these people aren't even in prison anymore; about 75 percent are living in their communities on probation or parole, or have already finished their sentences. The bill would immediately restore voting rights to roughly 2.2 million people who have completed their sentences but remain disenfranchised under current state laws. It would also end situations like Florida's, where over 930,000 people who finished their sentences still can't vote because they can't afford to pay court fines and fees.

The bill includes several enforcement mechanisms. States would be required to notify people when they regain voting rights and provide them with registration materials. If a state violates the law, people could sue to get their voting rights restored, and the federal government could also take legal action. Additionally, states that want federal funding for prisons and jails would have to comply with the law and notify people about their restored rights. The bill's supporters argue this would help people reintegrate into society and reduce crime, while critics would likely argue it expands voting rights too broadly.

Democracy Restoration Act of 2023

Crockett, Jasmine

Democracy Restoration Act of 2023 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.