Virginia Governor Restores Voting Rights For Felons
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Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe signed an order on Friday
restoring the voting rights of more than 200,000 convicted felons who
have completed their sentences, in a move that could help the Democratic
nominee in November's presidential election.
By using his executive powers, the Democratic governor is
circumventing the Republican majority in the state General Assembly.
Many of the convicts affected by the order are African-Americans or
Latinos, two groups that have voted overwhelmingly for Democratic
candidates in the past.
"Virginia will no longer build walls and barriers to the
ballot box - we will break them down,” McAuliffe said in a message on
his Twitter account.
Advocates of restoring voting rights say it is a way of
promoting racial justice, as African-Americans are convicted of crimes
and sent to prison at about twice the rate of the overall U.S.
population.
Stephen J. Farnsworth, a political analyst at the University of Mary
Washington in Fredericksburg, said a majority of the convicted felons
who regained their voting rights were likely members of minority groups.
Of the 5.8 million Americans banned from voting, 2.2 million are
African-American, according to the Sentencing Project, a prison reform
advocacy group.
In three states - Virginia, Florida and Kentucky - more than a fifth
of black residents outside of prison are barred from voting. About 13
percent of the U.S. population is African-American.
McAuliffe's order drew immediate criticism from John Whitbeck,
chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, who said the governor
should have excluded those convicted of violent crimes.
"His decision to issue a blanket restoration, without regard to the
nature of the crimes committed doesn't speak of mercy. Rather, it speaks
of political opportunism," Whitbeck said in a statement.
Nationwide, restoration of voting rights is an issue that has drawn
support from both Democrats and Republicans as a way to improve
reintegration of prisoners into society.
About two dozen states have eased restrictions on felons casting
ballots over the past two decades, according to the Sentencing Project.
POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS
But the move carries political implications as well. Virginia is
considered a key swing state in the 2016 election, and the governor's
order could tip the balance in favor of the Democratic candidate who
wins the party's nomination.
While Democrat Barack Obama took Virginia both in the 2008 and 2012
elections, Republican presidential candidates have a history of
dominance in the state. Before Obama's victories, Republicans carried
Virginia in every presidential election since 1952 except one. In 1964,
Democrat Lyndon Johnson won in Virginia as he defeated Barry Goldwater
in a national landslide.
The governor, who said on Friday Virginia has had some of the most
restrictive laws in the country for restoration of voting and civil
rights, has made the issue a high priority during his administration.
Previous efforts have resulted in the restoration of voting rights to
18,000 Virginians, he said.
The order will restore the rights of every Virginia felon who
completed his or her sentence and all other requirements as of April 22,
affecting 206,000 people immediately, the governor said in a press
release.
Before the order, Virginia felons would have to petition the governor, who had broad discretion in ruling on any request.
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