Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) announced Wednesday that he will automatically restore on a individual basis civil rights to nonviolent felons as long as they have done their time, paid their court costs and don’t have any pending felony charges on their record.
The change, which takes effect July 15, will eliminate the two-year period a released felon must wait to submit an application for restoration of his or her rights, giving them the opportunity to vote as soon as possible.
Good for Governor McDonnell to waive the waiting period for applications. On paper it sounds like he capitulated quite a bit. Actually he just shortened the time a released felon had to wait to reapply for voting rights. What about those involved in violent felony? For example, would those convicted of man-slaughter from drunk driving be considered ‘violent?’ Will those people ever be able to get their voting rights back?
If a person has a violent past and keeps his or her nose clean for x number of years, can they ever apply for voting rights?
It seems to me that good behavior for a certain period of time (maybe 3 to 5 years) should restore all rights of citizenship.
What rights to convicted felons lose? Should these rights ever be restored regardless?
