Petersburg, Va.—Virginia Organizing Chairperson Sandra A. Cook released the following statement after Governor Bob McDonnell announced the procedures for the new, more automated process of restoration of civil rights for former non-violent felons:

 

“For 15 years Virginia Organizing has been working in the state to make sure those people who have paid their debt to society and served their sentences for felonies would regain their right to vote automatically. Today, we celebrate Virginia’s step forward by making this process more automated and objective for former non-violent offenders.

“For those who have been waiting to get their rights to vote back, this is a huge victory and a gigantic step in being accepted and integrated as an active participant in the community.

“Virginia Organizing will continue to work with the Governor’s Office, the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and other community stakeholders to ensure that information about the process to restore civil rights to those who qualify for the new process is shared widely in our state. We will also continue to fight for a constitutional amendment that would automatically restore civil rights to all former felons.”

 

To interview a spokesperson for Virginia Organizing, please contact Amanda Pohl at 804-337-1912 or amanda@virginia-organizing.org.