Legislators’ attempts to reform the process by which felons regain the right to vote hit a dead-end Monday. A General Assembly subcommittee killed a block of constitutional amendments, including House Joint Resolution 542 by Del. Greg Habeeb, R-Salem, that would explore new avenues for felons to regain their voting rights after serving prison time. In a 4-3 vote, a House privileges and elections subcommittee tabled five constitutional amendments that would alter the way felons regain their voting rights. The subcommittee also tabled rights restoration bills proposed by Democratic legislators from Fairfax and Richmond and by Del. Danny Marshall, R-Danville. In addition, the subcommittee sidelined another 20 proposed amendments covering a range of issues.
Rights restoration became a hot-button issue after Gov. Terry McAuliffe issued an April executive order returning the right to vote to more than 200,000 people convicted of felonies.
The Supreme Court of Virginia later struck down McAuliffe’s order, saying the governor could not restore rights en masse.
With the presidential election on the horizon, McAuliffe’s executive order and the pursuant court ruling brought the restoration of felons’ voting rights to the forefront as a hotly debated point of contention between state Republicans and Democrats.
Full Article: Voting rights reform for felons dies in General Assembly subcommittee – Roanoke Times: General Assembly.