The following is an appeal from the Virginia Organizing Project

Please help restore voting rights for former felons in Virginia.

The problem:

Virginia has an estimated 300,000 former felons who cannot vote. Virginia and Kentucky are the only two states that have this restriction.

The solution:

Former felons should have their rights automatically restored when they complete their sentence and probation. The Governor can establish this policy entirely on his own, with no permission required from the Virginia General Assembly. We need Governor Tim Kaine to sign an Executive Order to correct this injustice — before he leaves office.

What you can do:

Call Governor Tim Kaine at (804) 786-2211 or send an e-mail at

http://www.governor.virginia.gov/AboutTheGovernor/contactGovernor.cfm

and ask him, “Please sign an Executive Order to restore voting rights for former felons so that their rights are automatically restored when they finish their sentence."

Thank you.

(Electronic mail, November 13, 2009)

Editor's Note: Justification for the Governor's authority to issue such a blanket order may be found in a detailed legal opinion.