Virginia governor restores voting rights for thousands of formerly incarcerated people

Tens of thousands of Virginians have had their voting rights restored thanks to a move from Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger, her office announced on Friday.

Elections have consequences, to quote the truism. And as Republicans nationwide launch schemes to winnow the pool of eligible voters ahead of the midterms, it’s important to note that one consequence of Democrats’ victory in Virginia’s gubernatorial race last year is that many people who had been barred from voting will get to participate in the franchise this year.

Spanberger announced Friday that her office has restored voting rights for more than 66,000 people who have served their punishments after being charged with crimes.

In the announcement, the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office also said that it “is also accepting restoration of rights applications from Virginians through a streamlined, online system that removed unnecessary questions added during the Youngkin Administration,” which can be found at restore.virginia.gov.

As writer Dean Mirshahi explained for Virginia Public Media:

Virginia is one of three states that automatically strip someone’s right to vote after they’re convicted of a felony. The governor has sole authority to give someone these rights back, either through the restoration process once they’ve completed their felony sentence or via a pardon. Spanberger sharply criticized the process used by her predecessor, Republican Glenn Youngkin, who faced intense scrutiny over a case-by-case review system that led to significantly fewer restorations each year he was in office.

Spanberger handily defeated MAGA firebrand and former Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears en route to her victory last November. Her move to restore voting rights to thousands of Virginians is one of several policie sthat it’s hard to imagine getting any traction had the tepidly Trump-endorsed Earle-Sears been elected.

The post Virginia governor restores voting rights for thousands of formerly incarcerated people appeared first on MS NOW.