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December 16, 2005
VA: Contact Gov. Warner to Restore Voting Rights
Action Alert
The Advancement Project is leading a campaign to encourage outgoing Virginia Governor Mark Warner to restore the voting rights of the estimated 243,000 citizens of that state who have completed a felony sentence. Virginia is one of the most restrictive states in the nation, with all felony convictions leading to permanent disenfranchisement. Although Governor Warner has been very receptive to applications for restoration of rights during his term, less than 2% of the disenfranchised population has regained the right to vote The Advancement Project and its allies are calling on the governor to follow the lead of Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack by issuing an executive order before his term ends on January 14th to automatically restore voting rights to all people who have completed a sentence. See the call to action below and make your voices heard.
IT’S TIME TO RESTORE VOTER RIGHTS . . .
AND THE CLOCK IS TICKING!
DON’T LET THE MOMENT PASS.
CALL GOVERNOR MARK WARNER TODAY.
There are 243,000 Virginia citizens who are unfairly denied the right to vote.
The overwhelming majority of Americans – more than 80%! – believe that people who have completed their sentences should be allowed to vote.
Virginia is one of only four states – all former slave states – that still permanently disenfranchise individuals with felony convictions.
Virginia disenfranchises 1 in every 6 African Americans in the Commonwealth.
It doesn’t have to be that way! The time for change is now.
Call Governor Warner today at 804-786-2211 or email him via his website:
http:// www.governor.virginia.gov/Contact/email_form.html
Urge him to issue an executive order to restore voting rights to Americans in Virginia who have completed the conditions of their criminal sentences.
Governor Warner’s term ends January 14, 2006. Before he leaves office, let’s make a bold, historic move for democracy. Let’s trounce a history of felony disenfranchisement laws that were intended to exclude African Americans, and still do.
Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack restored voting rights for disenfranchised voters this past summer. Ask Governor Warner to join Governor Vilsack in leading the way for a just democracy.
Governor Warner has already restored the voting rights of over 3,000 individuals – a number greater than his 4 predecessors combined – but this is only an estimated 2% of the eligible population. Now we need him to take the next step to strengthen voter justice and democracy in Virginia. It’s the right thing to do. And the time is now!
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Governor Mark R. Warner,
Patrick Henry Building, 3rd Floor, 1111 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219
Phone: (804) 786-2211
Fax: (804) 371-6351
Email correspondence: Follow link at:
http:// www.governor.virginia.gov/Contact/email_form.html
For more information go to www.AdvancementProject.org or email ap@advancementproject.org
Posted by lois at December 16, 2005 05:49 PM