Virginia’s Governor Restores Voting Rights for 13,000 Ex-Felons

Michael Wines of the New York Times reported this morning that Virginia’s governor, Terry McAuliffe, restored the rights of nearly 13,000 ex-felons, “accomplishing on a case-by-case basis what the state’s Supreme Court last month had barred him from doing with a single executive order.”  Nearly 1 in 5 African Americans in Virginia are unable to vote due to their criminal history.  Wines writes, “In a post on Twitter, the governor said, ‘We will continue to fight to ensure that our fellow citizens are not marginalized forever.”

The article continues, explaining “almost all states deny felons the right to vote, but many automatically restore voting rights after a violator has completed a prison term, probation, parole or all three. Virginia is one of four states that permanently strip felons of voting rights unless the governor lifts the prohibition, which Virginia governors had done sparingly.”

You can read the article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/23/us/virginia-governor-mcauliffe-voting-rights-felons.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share&_r=0

In California, only persons in state prison or on parole, community supervision or mandatory supervision, as a result of a felony conviction are disenfranchised from voting.  This includes those sentenced to prison who are serving their sentences in county jail under Realignment.  Once a person is no longer imprisoned or on parole, the right to vote is automatically restored.

If you have questions about your right to vote in the upcoming election, contact an attorney if you are unsure!