Spanberger reinstates 66,000 felons’ voting rights

Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) has restored voting rights to 66,085 Virginians with previous felony convictions since taking office, she announced Friday.Virginia’s constitution automatically and permanently strips voting rights of all convicted felons, making them ineligible to perform duties such as voting or serving on a jury after they complete their prison sentence. The one legal exception to this permanent rollback is if the governor personally restores an individual’s right to vote.Spanberger’s move marks a sharp contrast to the approach of her predecessor, Republican Glenn Youngkin, who restored the voting rights of fewer than 10,000 felons during his entire four years as governor. Youngkin moved to require felons released from prison to apply individually for the restoration of their voting rights, rather than having the administration automatically grant them. The Democratic governor aimed at Youngkin’s policies in her announcement, saying his administration “gutted” the “streamlined” automatic system used by several governors before him.“I’m proud that — after contending with my predecessor’s efforts to deny Virginians their fundamental rights — we have restored the rights of more than 66,000 Virginians who have served their time,” Spanberger said in a statement. “These Virginians deserve the right to use their vote, make their voices heard, and be recognized as contributing citizens to our Commonwealth and country.”A spokesperson for Youngkin said that the then-governor believed in “second chances for Virginians who have made mistakes, but are working to move forward as active members of our citizenry” in a statement given to Virginia Mercury in 2023.“The Constitution places the responsibility to consider Virginians for restoration in the hands of the Governor alone, and he does not take this lightly,” the Youngkin spokesperson said of his process at the time. “Restoration of rights are assessed on an individual basis according to the law and take into consideration the unique elements of each situation, practicing grace for those who need it and ensuring public safety for our community and families.”Spanberger’s announcement comes as Virginia voters prepare for a referendum on the issue in November. On the general election ballot, voters will be asked whether they support a constitutional amendment to restore voting rights automatically to Virginia felons once they are released from prison.Spanberger made her support for the referendum clear in her Friday statement.ABIGAIL SPANBERGER DEFENDS RECORD AT SIX-MONTH MARK WITH APPROVAL RATING UNDERWATER“This fall, voters can cast their ballots for Virginia to no longer strip so many of our neighbors of their fundamental rights — a shameful relic of our Jim Crow past,” Spanberger said. “I hope Virginians will join me in voting yes.”The Washington Examiner has reached out to the Virginia GOP for comment.