ACLU of Virginia Legislative Priorities


HJ 577 - United States Constitution; Ratifies Equal Rights Amendment.
Category: Gender Equity
Position: Strongly Support
Status: H Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely (4-Y 2-N) (1/22)
The ACLU of Virginia strongly supports ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Ratifying the ERA is an important step toward achieving full gender equity and will provide the highest level of constitutional protection against sex-based discrimination.

HJ 579 - United States Constitution; Ratifies Equal Rights Amendment.
Category: Gender Equity
Position: Strongly Support
Status: H Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely (4-Y 2-N) (1/22)
The ACLU of Virginia strongly supports ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Ratifying the ERA is an important step toward achieving full gender equity and will provide the highest level of constitutional protection against sex-based discrimination.

HJ 598 - Constitutional Amendment; Qualifications Of Voters And The Right To Vote (first Reference).
Category: Voting Rights
Position: Strongly Support
Status: H Assigned P & E sub: Subcommittee #4 (1/12)
The ACLU of Virginia strongly supports amending the state constitution to positively affirm the right to vote for all citizens who are over 18 and meet Virginia residency requirements. Right now, hundreds of thousands of Virginians cannot vote due to a felony conviction and more are disenfranchised every day under this remnant of the Jim Crow era, disproportionately affecting people of color. The right to vote belongs to the people and should be something that the government cannot take away for any reason.

SB 1026 - Absentee Voting; No-excuse, In-person, Beginning On Second Saturday Immediately Preceding Election.
Category: Voting Rights
Position: Strongly Support
Status: G Approved by Governor-Chapter 669 (effective 7/1/19) (3/21)


SB 1140 - Solitary Confinement; Data Collection And Reporting, Department Of Corrections To Submit Report.
Category: Criminal Justice Reform
Position: Strongly Support
Status: S Incorporated by Rehabilitation and Social Services (SB1777-Saslaw) (15-Y 0-N) (1/25)
The ACLU of Virginia strongly supports requiring the Virginia Department of Corrections to collect and report data on how many people are held in solitary confinement, why they were placed there, for how long, and whether they are a member of a vulnerable population. There currently are no data or reporting requirements on the use of solitary confinement in Virginia and as a result we know very little about this harmful and inhumane practice, except that it is far more prevalent than the VDOC has been willing to admit.

SJR 261 - Constitutional Amendment; Qualifications Of Voters And The Right To Vote (first Reference).
Category: Voting Rights
Position: Strongly Support
Status: S Incorporates SJ262 (1/9)
The ACLU of Virginia strongly supports amending the state constitution to positively affirm the right to vote for all citizens who are over 18 and meet Virginia residency requirements. Right now, hundreds of thousands of Virginians cannot vote due to a felony conviction and more are disenfranchised every day under this remnant of the Jim Crow era, disproportionately affecting people of color. The right to vote belongs to the people and should be something that the government cannot take away for any reason.

SJR 262 - Constitutional Amendment; Qualifications Of Voters And The Right To Vote (first Reference).
Category: Voting Rights
Position: Strongly Support
Status: S Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (11/29)
The ACLU of Virginia strongly supports amending the state constitution to positively affirm the right to vote for all citizens who are over 18 and meet Virginia residency requirements. Right now, hundreds of thousands of Virginians cannot vote due to a felony conviction and more are disenfranchised every day under this remnant of the Jim Crow era, disproportionately affecting people of color. The right to vote belongs to the people and should be something that the government cannot take away for any reason.