Charlottesville, Va.—Virginia Organizing, a non-partisan statewide grassroots organization, is working to register voters across the Commonwealth, focusing on finding returning citizens. Volunteers, Chapter leaders, interns, Board members, and staff have been visiting barber shops, beauty salons, gas stations, libraries, civic clubs, community centers, churches, government offices, and more to find people who are eligible for Governor Terry McAuliffe’s recent restoration of rights order.
As part of the organization’s efforts to increase participation in the political process by those who have been previously disenfranchised, Virginia Organizing has met returning citizens who are excited to vote and share their story with a broader audience. To schedule an interview with a person affected by restoration of civil rights, please contact Amanda Pohl at 804-337-1912 or amanda@virginia-organizing.org.
Sample Stories (please contact Amanda for additional media markets):
Marty J. of Danville had his rights restored years ago and is now engaged in working with Virginia Organizing to make sure others in his community have the same opportunity. He is excited that the Governor took a bold step to give returning citizens a second chance.
Odessa H. of Fredericksburg is one of the 206,000 Virginians whose rights were restored on April 22. She found Virginia Organizing after reading the restoration of rights story of one of our State Governing Board members in her local paper. She reached out for help and Virginia Organizing connected her with the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office to verify her rights were restored and helped her register to vote. Odessa is now registering voters and spreading the news about restoration of rights on behalf of Virginia Organizing.
Ellwood C. of the Richmond-metro area visited his local Social Security office and ran into Virginia Organizing interns conducting a voter registration drive. The interns verified he had his rights restored as part of the April 22 order and helped him register to vote.
Shelia C. of South Hampton Roads had her rights restored before the Governor’s order and is working to register voters with Virginia Organizing and make sure people in her area are aware of the Governor’s recent restoration order.
