Big voting rights news in Virginia!
Both legislative chambers adopted a measure yesterday to restore voting rights to everyone not incarcerated.
VA would be 20th state to allow that, a HUGE turnaround: VA is now one of 3 states where law is *lifetime* loss for all felonies.
Both legislative chambers adopted a measure yesterday to restore voting rights to everyone not incarcerated.
VA would be 20th state to allow that, a HUGE turnaround: VA is now one of 3 states where law is *lifetime* loss for all felonies.
Two *buts*
1/ Measure has to be a constitutional amendment, so process is complex: it has to be adopted again next year, then put on 2022 ballot.
2/ State will continue stripping ppl in prison of vote. VA advocates mounted very focused push to end disenfranchisement entirely.
1/ Measure has to be a constitutional amendment, so process is complex: it has to be adopted again next year, then put on 2022 ballot.
2/ State will continue stripping ppl in prison of vote. VA advocates mounted very focused push to end disenfranchisement entirely.
One reason it’s significant: states with*lifetime* bans, when they’ve reformed, have been adopting smaller measures that enfranchise ppl who complete a sentence — leaving many not incarcerated disenfranchised, confusingly.
VA jumped over that stage, at least. (As NV in 2019.)
VA jumped over that stage, at least. (As NV in 2019.)
More than 20% of black Virginians were stripped of the right to vote as of the 2016 election (before VA governors began to enfranchise some people via executive orders).
Shocking, staggering, racist exclusions in many states — which was the stated intent when system was created.
Shocking, staggering, racist exclusions in many states — which was the stated intent when system was created.
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