Senate resolution seeks constitutional right to vote
In committeeS.J.Res. 186Latest action
Sponsor: Richard J. Durbin · Senator · IL
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to the fundamental right to vote.
119th Congress
Topics: Government & democracy
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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Proposed constitutional amendment would make voting a guaranteed right for U.S. citizens and limit governments' power to restrict it.
50-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
This resolution proposes a new constitutional amendment that would give every U.S. citizen of legal voting age a fundamental right to vote in local public elections. No federal, state, or local government could restrict that right unless it could prove a critically important reason and show its restriction was the least burdensome option possible. The proposal would also limit states' ability to take away voting rights from people with felony convictions.
Who does it affect?
The amendment would affect all U.S. citizens of legal voting age. To become law, it would need approval from two-thirds of both the Senate and House of Representatives, then ratification by at least three-fourths of all state legislatures.
Why does it matter?
If passed, governments that want to restrict voting would face a very high legal standard to justify those restrictions. States would also lose some of their current authority to strip voting rights from people convicted of certain crimes.
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Read the official bill on Congress.govMake the call
Where does it stand?
- IntroducedApr 27, 2026
- Senate committeeYou are here · Apr 27, 2026
- Senate vote
- House
- Sent to the states
Right now: a Senate committee is reviewing it. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate. Both chambers have to pass the same text, each by two thirds. A proposed constitutional amendment never goes to the president: it goes to the states, and three quarters of them have to ratify it before it takes effect.
Latest action: — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S2055)