Virginia is leading the way in restoring civil rights to former offenders. In just the last year, Gov. Terry McAuliffe restored the rights of 5,113 Virginians to vote, serve on a jury, hold public office, and become notaries. He is acting to remove obstacles that prevent others from receiving civil rights restoration.

Historically, Virginia has been one of the most restrictive states in the nation in restoring civil rights to those who have completed their criminal sentence sanctions. Attempts in recent years to amend the Virginia Constitution to allow automatic restoration of civil rights have failed. Nonviolent offenders are eligible to have their rights restored after they have served their time and paid fines and restitution; violent offenders must wait five years.

Former Gov. Bob McDonnell pushed for the constitutional amendment. He also used his authority as the only person who can restore civil rights, setting a record with the restoration of rights to 8,163 people over his four – year term. About 35,000 people in the state are disenfranchised in the state, including about a fifth of the state’s population.

McAuliffe is picking up where McDonnell left off, and he is sure to surpass the restoration record. “I’m only 11 months in office,” he said, “We’re just starting.”

To make the process easier, his office has reduced the 13-page application for rights restoration to a single page. Drug crimes have been removed from the list of felony offences requiring a waiting period prior to reinstatement. McAuliffe also reduced the waiting period from five years to three years for those convicted of serious offences.

“I’ve said many times I think it is important that everybody in life gets a second chance,” said McAuliffe. “Virginians who have made a mistake and paid their debt to society should have their voting rights restored through a process that is as transparent and responsive as possible.”

Sources: Richmond Times – Dispatch, msnbc.com