While the franchise debate is a contentious one, a growing number of states, many of them with Republican governors, are rethinking the extent to which voting is a privilege that can be taken away from citizens who break laws. Before Friday, Virginia had been one of four states – the others being Florida, Iowa and Kentucky – to remove voting rights for felons for life unless a state official restores them.
Advertisement
Former felons affected by the order will mostly include African-Americans, who are disproportionately affected by harsh sentencing within the United States legal system. Credit: Mic ” I will sign an order restoring the civil and voting rights of every single individual who has completed his or her sentence as of this day”, he said at the conference.
There is no way to know how numerous newly eligible voters in Virginia will register, but Mr. McAuliffe said he would encourage all to do so. “We should do it as soon as we possibly can”.
McAuliffe’s rights restoration order applies to all ex-felons who have completed their sentence and other requirements as of April 22.
Governor McAuliffe’s order opens the door for several hundred thousand Virginians to once again participate in politics.
Laws restricting voting rights of people convicted of felonies vary across the US.
McAuliffe’s re-enfranchisement of convicted felons won’t happen right away, and it won’t be the new rule going forward. Civil rights advocates are celebrating the move as a victory for former criminals who have turned their lives around but who would otherwise face a long and hard battle to have their right to vote restored.
In his state Friday, Howell also accused McAuliffe of “undermining the strength of the criminal justice system and the sanctity of our civil rights”. McAuliffe is a former DNC chair and also served as chair of Clinton’s 2008 run for the presidency. Most are African-Americans, a core constituency of Democrats, Mr. McAuliffe’s political party. The singular objective of Terry McAuliffe’s governorship is to elect Hilary Clinton President of the United States.
“This office has always been a stepping stone to a job in Hillary Clinton’s cabinet”. In another statement obtained by The Times, Virginia Republicans blasted McAuliffe, saying he was just fishing for votes. McAuliffe said parts of the state Constitution were meant to disenfranchise African-Americans, and he wanted to change that. His decision to issue a blanket restoration, without regard to the nature of the crimes committed, doesn’t speak of mercy. “But there are limits.” party Chairman John Whitbeck said.
House Speaker Bill Howell said he was “stunned” at the broad use of executive power that simply serves to help “deliver Virginia to Hillary Clinton in November”, but acknowledged that felons should have the chance to have their rights restored. Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell in 2013 issued an executive order making it easier for non-violent ex-felons to regain their voting rights. About 13 percent of the USA population is African-American.
Advertisement
About two dozen states have eased restrictions on felons casting ballots over the past two decades, according to the Sentencing Project.
