The McDonnell administration is adding to the process of voting-rights restoration for nonviolent felons.
Those applicants will be asked to submit a letter providing information about their situation, including circumstances of their offense and subsequent changes in their life.
"The intent is for us to have the fairest and fastest turnarounds in these decisions in the history of Virginia," said Secretary of the Commonwealth Janet Polarek.
Polarek's office, which handles the applications, has begun to notify applicants in the pipeline to submit a letter. She said the letter will help her office understand circumstances of the case and more about the person's story.
"The letter gives them the opportunity to explain all of those factors," Polarek said. "We don't get any of the facts of the case."
Democrats reacted swiftly saying this comes on the heels of the governor's controversial Confederate History Month proclamation.
"Virginia is one of only two states whose governors solely have the right to restore a felon's right to vote," said Sean Holihan, president of the Virginia Young Democrats, in a statement. "Gov. McDonnell and the Republican Party have time and again showed the public their disinterest in seeing those that have paid their dues welcomed back into society."
Polarek insists that the letter will streamline the process.
"This is a chance for the applicant to have their full situation explained," said J. Tucker Martin, communications director for McDonnell.
The administration has yet to grant any restoration of rights, but Polarek said dozens are in process. Some applicants have been notified of the need for a so-called details-of-offense letter in anticipation of the new procedure so the process isn't slowed down, Polarek said.
If the applicant can't write the letter or would prefer not to, their attorney can write it for them, or the applicant can call her office directly and tell their story, she said.
Former Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's administration left about 650 restoration-rights requests, and the McDonnell administration has received approximately 250 since the inauguration, Polarek said.
Nonviolent felons can request to get their voting rights back after three years if they have no other convictions during that time. Polarek said administration officials will meet with various groups to further discuss the final mechanics of the plan.
Contact Olympia Meola at (804) 649-6812 or omeola@timesdispatch.com.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement