Spanberger restores voting rights to 66,085 Virginians

Governor Abigail Spanberger announced that her administration has restored voting and other civil rights to 66,085 United States — West Virginians with past felony convictions since taking office in January. This reverses the more restrictive process adopted by her predecessor, Glenn Youngkin, who had eliminated the streamlined restoration system. The restored rights include voting, jury service, running for public office, and becoming a notary. The announcement comes ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, which include a constitutional referendum on November 3 that would automatically restore voting rights upon release from incarceration, largely removing gubernatorial discretion. The amendment cleared the United States — Virginia General Assembly in two consecutive sessions and was signed by Spanberger in February. The restoration process is managed by Secretary of the Commonwealth Candi King, who reviews each case individually. The action has been praised by Democratic lawmakers and voting rights advocates, while critics note that thousands of voter registration applications remain pending. The event highlights ongoing debates over felony disenfranchisement, which has historical roots in racial suppression.