A House Privileges and Elections subcommittee this morning killed a proposal to amend the state Constitution to make it easier for convicted felons to have their voting rights restored.
The proposal by Sen. Yvonne B. Miller, D-Norfolk, would allow the General Assembly to set parameters for restoring voting rights. Now only the governor may do so.
The measure died on a 3-2 vote along party lines. The three Republican opponents said the process already is easy and that the governor is restoring the rights of many people. Proponents said the process is cumbersome and that many people are ashamed to go to the governor to seek a restoration of voting rights.
A constitutional amendment requires that a measure pass the legislature twice and then be approved by the state's voters in a referendum.
-- Tyler Whitley
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