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January 31, 2007
VA Senate passes a proposed consitutional amendment to restore voiting rights to people convicted of non-violent felonies
Measure on felons' voting rights OK'd
Richmond Times-Dispatch Friday,
January 26, 2007
The Virginia Senate passed 29-10 yesterday a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow the General Assembly to set procedures in law for restoration of voting rights to nonviolent felons.
Currently, only the governor can restore felons' civil rights. People seeking to have their rights restored must go through a laborious process to have the governor review their case. Felons in Virginia automatically lose their right to vote when they are convicted. More than 200,000 have lost the right, and the largest number live in Richmond. Sen. Yvonne B. Miller, D-Norfolk, sponsor of the proposal, said some of those convicted have plea-bargained away their rights in return for a lighter sentence. Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-James City, noted that some people were convicted of felony drug charges in the 1970s. Today, with more tolerant community standards, those same crimes would be a misdemeanor, he said. Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, R-Fairfax, objected. He said the governor can devote more personal attention to each case. The amendment would not affect the governor's restoration powers. -
Posted by lois at January 31, 2007 05:44 PM