More than 200,000 convicted felons in Virginia may participate in the November elections, as the state restores the voting rights of those who have successfully served their sentence.
The voting rights extend to convicted ex-felons who have completed parole, probation and any supervised release as of April 22, 2016.
The restored suffrage of former felons is part of a bigger initiative that aims to reverse the Virginia's long-standing history of the African-American's voting rights suppression.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) signed the executive order, which includes the restoration of the ex-convicts' right to vote. However, it's not just about reinstating their freedom to choose a leader.
This move also allows previous offenders the right to run for public office or become a notary public if they choose to. Moreover, it reinstates their right to jury duty.
"Too often in both our distant and recent history, politicians have used their authority to restrict peoples' ability to participate in our democracy. Today we are reversing that disturbing trend and restoring the rights of more than 200,000 of our fellow Virginians who work, raise families and pay taxes in every corner of our Commonwealth," said McAuliffe.
Upon the signing of the executive order, 206,000 ex-felons in Virginia who will benefit from the voting rights.
Furthermore, he gave instructions to the Secretary of the Commonwealth to come up with a monthly order similar to the one he signed so that future ex-felons who successfully did time will be able to regain these rights.
McAuliffe added the importance of breaking down the barriers that prevent ex-offenders from participating in civic life and in building a more equal and stronger Virginia.
The Maryland State Senate restored the same rights in February wherein approximately 40,000 ex-offenders regained their rights to vote.
However, not every state is convinced of the move. In December 2015, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R), who was then newly elected, reversed his predecessor's executive order, which granted voting rights to convicted ex-offenders following the completion of their sentences.
