Question 3: Voting Rights Restoration

Should Virginia's constitution be amended to establish a fundamental right to vote, restore voting rights automatically when a person convicted of a felony is released from incarceration (not during it), and update the standard for voters found to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting?

This measure appears on every ballot in Virginia on November 3, 2026. Virginia is one of only a few states where people with felony convictions lose voting rights indefinitely unless individually restored by the governor. A Yes vote makes the right to vote fundamental in the constitution and restores it automatically upon release from prison; a No vote keeps the current governor-by-governor restoration process.

• Supporters (Yes vote): Say returning citizens who have completed their prison time should participate in their communities and democracy, pointing to studies showing that civic engagement aids reentry and reduces recidivism.
• Opponents (No vote): Argue rights restoration should occur only after full sentence completion including probation, parole, and victim restitution, or should remain under gubernatorial review.

Stated fairly. CivicLoop is nonpartisan and does not endorse either side.

• What is your stance on automatically restoring voting rights to citizens upon release from prison?
• What steps best support successful reentry, public safety, and civic participation?
• How should Virginia evaluate voter qualifications and restoration of rights?

• Virginia Dept. of Elections — Question 3 (official)
• Ballotpedia — Virginia Question 3 (2026)