Proposed Constitutional Amendment Question 3

BALLOT LANGUAGE

Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended (i) to provide for the fundamental right to vote in the Commonwealth, (ii) to revise the qualifications of voters so that a person convicted of a felony is not entitled to vote during his period of incarceration but is automatically invested with the right to vote upon release from incarceration, and (iii) to update the existing prohibition on voting by persons found to be mentally incompetent to instead apply to persons who have been found to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting? 

WHAT IT MEANS

Yes

A “Yes” vote means that you desire to amend the Virginia Constitution to automatically restore the right to vote to those convicted of a felony once they have completed their sentence and prohibit those who do not understand the act of voting from voting.

No

A “No” vote means that you desire to keep the current language of the Virginia Constitution which allows the Governor or other appropriate authority to restore the right to vote to those convicted of a felony once they have completed their sentence and prohibits those who have been found to be mentally incompetent from voting.

ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST

Yes

"This amendment ensures our rights are protected for the future in Virginia from politicians who could take them away with the stroke of a pen.

This amendment would also end the Jim Crow–era provisions still in Virginia’s Constitution designed to keep Black voters and other communities of color from the polls by permanently stripping voting rights from people with felony convictions. This amendment is a historic chance to end that Jim Crow relic by restoring people’s rights once they have completed their sentences and returned to their communities." - Virginians for the Right to Vote 

"It’s time to put the right to vote back in the hands of Virginians. After serving their time, all returning citizens deserve a second chance at voting. Together, let’s put our Jim Crow era behind us and amend the Virginia constitution." - Virginia Right to Vote Coalition 

No

“The amendment that Democrats pushed through doesn’t serve justice. It lets a felon who is still on probation, still owes fines, who has paid victim restitution, get their rights back as soon as they’re physically out of prison. They left several Republican votes on the table by not putting victims first.” - Terry Kilgore, State Delegate 

"It declares a “fundamental right to vote” which creates constitutional challenges to requirements for voter identification, absentee ballot verification, election day definitions, and other common sense laws." - Defend Virginia’s Sons and Daughters 

ENDORSEMENTS

Yes

New Virginia Majority (Liberal)

Abigail Spanberger (Liberal)

Jennifer Carroll Foy (Liberal)

David Reid (Liberal)

R. Creigh Deeds (Liberal)

No

Bill DeSteph (Other)

Wendell Walker (Conservative)

James A. "Jay" Leftwich (Conservative)

Bryce Reeves (Conservative)

Michael Webert (Conservative)

FINANCIAL BACKING

The following information provides insight into the money being spent to pass or defeat the ballot measure.

Yes

VIRGINIA QUESTION 3, VOTING RIGHTS RESTORATION FOR FELONS UPON RELEASE AMENDMENT (2026)

This question is on the ballot in Virginia as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 3, 2026. As of September 25, 2026, the committees formed to support Virginia Question 3, Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Upon Release Amendment (2026) are:

VIRGINIANS FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE

Selected contributions to: "Virginians for the Right to Vote" include:

  • New Virginia Majority
  • ACLU Virginia
  • Don Scott for Virginia
  • League of Conservation Voters
  • Underground to Uplift

FEMINISTS FOR VOTING RIGHTS

Selected contributions to: "Feminists for Voting Rights" include:

  • Feminist Majority Foundation

No

VIRGINIA QUESTION 3, VOTING RIGHTS RESTORATION FOR FELONS UPON RELEASE AMENDMENT (2026)

This question is on the ballot in Virginia as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 3, 2026. As of September 25, 2026, the committees formed to oppose Virginia Question 3, Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Upon Release Amendment (2026) are:

DEFEND VIRGINIA'S SONS AND DAUGHTERS, INC.

Selected contributions to: "Defend Virginia's Sons and Daughters, Inc." include:

  • Elizabeth Chardon Jenks
  • Marian Dixon
  • S. Vance Wilkins

If you are not already receiving our updates, stay current with important election alerts, educational articles, and encouraging reminders.

I agree to receive text messages at the mobile number provided.