S 428 Massachusetts Senate · 193rd Legislature (2023-2024)

An Act relative to voting rights restoration

This bill restores voting rights to individuals in Massachusetts who have been convicted of felonies, regardless of whether they are currently incarcerated. It achieves this by removing specific language from state election laws that previously barred people with felony convictions from voting while in prison. The legislation directly affects incarcerated felons by allowing them to participate in elections without needing to complete their sentences first. By striking out the exclusionary clauses, the bill ensures that felony status alone does not disqualify a person from casting a ballot.
Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2023
Committee Review
Feb 2023
House Passage
Mar 2024
Governor
Introduced Feb 16, 2023 Last action Aug 22, 2024
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
6
Key actions
2
Committee
1
Mar 4, 2024
Lower · Passed
House concurred
lower
Feb 16, 2023
Lower · Passed
House concurred
lower
Feb 16, 2023
Committee
Referred to the committee on Election Laws
upper
1 primary · 8 co-sponsors

Sponsors