PSI Sci
New here? Follow the money and the votes · Not sure of your district? Find your U.S. House member · Find your state legislators

H.R. 196: Democracy Restoration Act of 2019

Before you vote › Federal bills

H.R. 196: Democracy Restoration Act of 2019

116th Congress · introduced 2019-01-03 · Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2019-01-03 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-10] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Democracy Restoration Act of 2019

Plain summary

Democracy Restoration Act of 2019 This bill addresses the voting rights of persons convicted of a criminal offense and the restoration of their voting rights. The bill declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, such individual is serving a felony sentence. The bill provides for enforcement of, and remedies for violations of, the bill. The bill sets forth requirements for state and federal notification of individuals of the restoration of their voting rights. The bill prohibits federal funding of construction or improvement of a place of incarceration unless U.S. citizens incarcerated in that jurisdiction are notified, upon release, of their voting rights.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Democracy Restoration Act of 2019

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-10] · 45 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Steve Cohen (D-TN), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Terri A. Sewell (D-AL), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Mark Takano (D-CA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Mark Pocan (D-WI), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-10] reported raising $258,402 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Jurisdiction
The area or the matters a government or court has authority over.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong116-hr196 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116