Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced today that his administration has restored the voting rights of more than 2,500 non-violent felons who have served their time.
“Virginians who have served their time deserve a second chance to become productive members of society again,” said McAuliffe said in a statement. “I am proud of the reforms my administration has undertaken to expand and expedite the rights restoration process and the work my team has done restoring Virginians’ voting rights so former offenders can lead successful, productive lives here in the commonwealth,” he said.
McAuliffe has inherited his agenda of voting rights restoration from former Gov. Bob McDonnell, who had greatly streamlined the process and with 8,013 during his four-year term restored rights to more felons than any of his predecessors.
At the beginning of the 2013 General Assembly session, McDonnell unsuccessfully sought legislation that would have changed the Virginia Constitution to allow for automatic restoration of rights for nonviolent felons who have completed their terms.
Full Article: McAuliffe restores voting rights of 2,500 felons – Richmond Times-Dispatch: Virginia News.