McDonnell Announces Push For Rights Restoration
Governor McDonnell has announced stepped-up procedures to restore voting rights to non-violent offenders, and promised action by July 15th on hundreds of applications he says are long overdue. Charles Fishburne reports.
The Governor said he was making good on a promise, and making up for 650 applicants left over from the last administration.
McDonnell: I believe that that’s unacceptable.
The Governor pledged a 60-day turnaround on completed applications, the wait time to apply shortened from three to two years, wait time to reapply reduced from two years to one, and the addition of on-line application and community service credit.
McDonnell: That it’s better, that it’s faster, that it’s fairer, that it’s transparent, that it’s dignified, and I think that’s what we have arrived at today.
Virginia and Kentucky are the only two states in the nation that permanently disenfranchise all felons, leaving the restoration process up to the Governor. And the ACLU says, even with these positive changes, Virginia will be last or next to last in the country in restoration rights.
Charles Fishburne, WCVE News.
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