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S.J.Res. 186Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to the fundamental right to vote.

Sponsored by Richard J. DurbinSen. Richard J. Durbin (D-IL)
Introduced April 27, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 30, 2026 at 4:53 AM UTC

This joint resolution proposes a new constitutional amendment that makes voting a fundamental right for all citizens of legal voting age. It restricts any denial of that right to situations where the government can show a compelling interest and that the restriction is the least restrictive means possible. The amendment also removes the “or other crime” language from the Fourteenth Amendment, tightening the standards for disenfranchisement, and authorizes Congress to enforce the new protections.

Key Provisions

  • Guarantees that every U.S. citizen of voting age has a fundamental right to vote in any public election where they reside.
  • Allows the federal government or any state to limit that right only if it serves a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive way to achieve it.
  • Repeals the phrase “or other crime” from Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment, which currently permits denying voting rights for any crime.
  • Gives Congress the authority to pass laws to enforce and protect this voting right.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S2055)

Judiciary Committee

April 27, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

April 27, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S2055)

Judiciary Committee

April 27, 2026

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S.J.Res. 186 on the floor

1 Democrat
Richard J. Durbin
Sen. Richard J. DurbinD-IL · Apr 27, 2026

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Record
Richard J. Durbin
Sen. Richard J. DurbinD-IL · Apr 27, 2026

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Record

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued April 27, 2026

IIA

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. J. RES. 186

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 27, 2026

Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mr. Merkley, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Warren, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Markey, and Mr. Welch) introduced the following joint resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to the fundamental right to vote.

That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States:

 —
1.

Every citizen of the United States, who is of legal voting age, shall have the fundamental right to vote in any public election held in the jurisdiction in which the citizen resides.

2.

The fundamental right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State or political subdivision within a State unless such denial or abridgment is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.

3.

The portion of section 2 of the fourteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States that consists of the phrase or other crime, is repealed.

4.

The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article and protect against any denial or abridgement of the fundamental right to vote by legislation.

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