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More than 300,000 Virginians are unable to vote due to the state's felony disfranchisement law.

 

 

Groups Express Profound Disappointment in Governor's Refusal to Restore Voting Rights to Persons with Felony Convictions - January 15, 2010

Richmond, VA -- Civil rights and faith-based groups that have been actively lobbying Governor Tim Kaine to restore voting rights to 300,000 Virginians disenfranchised by the state's last vestige of Jim Crow today expressed extreme disappointment in the Governor's decision not to act before leaving office. Read more...

Click here to read the letter from the Governor's office.

Groups Ask Governor to Issue Executive Order Restoring Voting Rights of Virginians with Felony Convictions- January 5, 2010

Richmond, VA -- Ten Virginia civil rights and faith-based groups have joined together to ask Governor Tim Kaine to issue an executive order that would restore voting rights to most or all of Virginia’s 300,000 individuals who are being denied the right to vote because of a felony conviction, and to put in place a process for automatically restoring rights to others who complete their sentences in the future. Read more...

 

Hear Stories from Former Felons:

 

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What Supporters of Rights Restoration Say:

 

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In Congress...

On July 24, 2009 Rep. John Conyers and Sen. Russell Feingold introduced the Democracy Restoration Act of 2009, which will automatically restore voting rights in federal elections for persons with criminal convictions who have completed the terms of their sentences. The law, If passed, would allow 5.3 million disfranchised persons, including 300,000 in Virginia, to vote in federal elections.

Although the Democracy Restoration Act only affects federal elections, it could influence state election laws as well. States like Virginia that disfranchise felons would have to decide between instituting a dual voter registration system (one for federal elections allowing felons to vote and another for state elections prohibiting felons from voting), or keeping a single state/federal registration system but allowing felons to vote.

Take Action: Tell your Senators and Representative that you support voting rights restoration and the Democracy Restoration Act of 2009.

 

In the 2010 Virginia General Assembly...

HJ 6 (Howell, A.T.); SJ 62 (Miller, Y.B.) -- would amend the Virginia Constitution to allow the Virginia General Assembly to determine the rules for restoration of civil rights, including voting rights, for persons who have been convicted of non-violent felonies who have completed their sentences. Status: SJ 62 was continued until 2011 in the Senate Privileges & Elections Committee (15-Y, 0-N) on Jan. 19.

HJ 16 (Dance); HJ 42 (Morrissey); HJ 70 (Ware, O.H.); HJ 116 (Carr) -- would amend the Virginia Constitution to allow the Virginia General Assembly to provide for the restoration of civil rights, including voting rights, for all persons convicted of felonies who have completed their sentences.

For details about bills introduced in the 2009 session, click here.


What you can do...

1. Contact your delegate and senator and tell them to support voting rights restoration legislation in the General Assembly! Click here for talking points. Who is my legislator?

2. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper to build support for the end of felony disfranchisement in Virginia. Click here for a sample letter to the editor.

 

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Democracy Restoration
Act of 2009

What is Felon Disfranchisement?

Get Informed- Briefing Paper on Felon Disfranchisement

Sample Letter to the Editor

Talking Points: What You Should Know About Felon Disfranchisement in Virginia

What the Newspapers Say:

Kaine Should Restore Felons' Voting Rights
"Indeed, Kaine should be feeling a sense of urgency. Leaving Virginia among the two least-progressive states on this issue is not a desirable legacy for a former civil-rights lawyer who happens to lead the Democratic National Committee. Kaine can do nothing and perpetuate the status quo, or worse. Or he can do the right thing." ~The Richmond Times-Dispatch, Michael Paul Williams Column, December 12, 2009

Felon Voting Ban Isolates Virginia
"If the Virginia General Assembly were doing its job, an orderly, prompt procedure for the automatic restoration of such rights to individuals who've served their time and completed restitution would have been in place a long time ago." ~The Virginian-Pilot, editorial, January 13, 2006

Restoring the Vote
"...the Virginia constitution is a decade behind the times. Sixteen states have broadened voting rights for felons since 1997... felons who have served their time shouldn't be excluded from the democratic process." ~The Washington Post, editorial, June 24, 2008

Ex-Offenders Should Have Voting Rights
"The state properly punishes crimes, but should not impose a lifetime sentence of marginalization by stripping ex-offenders of their rights as citizens. Once they've paid their debt to society, former felons should have the opportunity to become productive members of the community and participate in it fully-- to work, pay taxes, and have a vote." ~The Roanoke Times, editorial, September 13, 2009

Voting Rights
"Many prisoners leave prison not only illprepared to make a life out of something other than crime, but angry and alienated. A social policy that feeds that feeling, that says, 'Our law, and the way we treat you, presume that you are not worthy to participate in decent society' only makes it worse." ~Daily Press, editorial, October 14, 2009

Felons Deserve Voting Rights
"...as many as 300,000 Virginians are left out of the most important civic exercise most of us enjoy. Paying your fines and serving your sentence are not enough. They should be enough. That's why we have sentencing laws and guidelines. The punishment should stop when the sentence has been served...The cumbersome method to restore rights not only punishes felons, but also holds Virginia back." ~Staunton News Leader, editorial, December 14, 2009

An Opportunity to Expand Civil Rights
"It is a matter of simple fairness that once a person has completed the entire sentence, his or her rights should be restored...As a member of the party founded in large part by Abraham Lincoln, I'm proud to stand in favor of this historic civil rights reform. " ~The Washington Times, op-ed by Jack Kemp, April 12, 2007

 

The Restore Our Vote website is a product of the ACLU of Virginia, which is working with numerous other organizations from across the state to provide information to individuals seeking to have their rights restored and to reform Virginia's felon disfranchisement law.  It is intended for educational purposes only and does not contain legal advice.

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Last Updated January 25, 2010