This bill aims to amend the voting rights of individuals who have been incarcerated for felony convictions in West Virginia. Specifically, it proposes to restore the eligibility to register to vote automatically upon release from incarceration, regardless of whether the individual is on probation, parole, or supervised release. The current law disqualifies individuals convicted of a felony from registering to vote while serving their sentence, including any period of incarceration, probation, or parole.

In addition to the restoration of voting rights upon release, the bill maintains existing qualifications for voter registration, such as being a U.S. citizen, a legal resident of West Virginia, and at least 18 years of age. It also includes a provision that disqualifies individuals declared mentally incompetent by a court from registering to vote as long as that disability persists. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance the democratic participation of formerly incarcerated individuals by ensuring their voting rights are reinstated immediately upon their release.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 3-2-2