Virginia restored voting rights for 100,000 formerly incarcerated residents, Governor Abigail Spanberger announced during remarks at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., where she spoke at a commemoration of the 1963 March on Washington anniversary.
Virginia is one of only three states that permanently strip voting rights from citizens with felony convictions, with the governor holding sole authority to restore those rights. Since taking office in January 2026, Spanberger's administration has restored rights for the 100,000 individuals — an expansion from the 66,000 rights restored about six months into her term.
Spanberger described the process as a shameful relic of Virginia's Jim Crow past. She cited one Virginian, Sam Harris, as an example of someone restored to the ballot, saying he spoke with reverence for his restored right to vote because it's something his ancestors died for.
The governor also urged passage of a Virginia constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would ensure automatic restoration of voting rights for eligible citizens in the future rather than relying on executive discretion.
Spanberger highlighted Virginia's recent progress in elected representation, noting the state has elected a record number of Black legislators and women to office, as well as the state's first Black Speaker of the House, first Black Attorney General, first Muslim woman to statewide office as Lieutenant Governor, and first woman Governor.