{"id":2638341,"date":"2026-07-31T15:29:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T19:29:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/spanberger-reinstates-66000-felons-voting-rights\/"},"modified":"2026-07-31T15:31:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T19:31:37","slug":"spanberger-reinstates-66000-felons-voting-rights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/spanberger-reinstates-66000-felons-voting-rights\/","title":{"rendered":"Spanberger reinstates 66,000 felons&#8217; voting rights"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">12<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fspanberger-reinstates-66000-felons-voting-rights%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2638341&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Governor Abigail Spanberger of virginia has announced that she has restored voting rights to 66,085 individuals with previous felony convictions since taking office.Virginia\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >constitution permanently disenfranchises convicted felons<\/a> unless the governor personally reinstates their voting rights, which Spanberger has now done for thousands. This action contrasts with her predecessor, Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin, who restored rights to fewer then 10,000 felons and required individuals to apply for reinstatement rather than granting it automatically. Spanberger&#8217;s move emphasizes the importance of voting rights and aligns with a proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot, which aims to make the restoration of voting rights automatic upon release from prison. She advocates for ending Virginia\u2019s history of disenfranchisement linked to its Jim Crow past, urging voters to support the amendment. Simultaneously occurring,Youngkin&#8217;s management maintained a process that assessed each case individually,emphasizing public safety and individual responsibility.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/abigail-spanberger\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"11780\">Abigail Spanberger<\/a> (D-VA) has restored <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/voting-rights\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1135\">voting rights<\/a> to 66,085 Virginians with previous felony convictions since taking office, she announced Friday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/virginia\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"96\">Virginia\u2019s<\/a> constitution automatically and permanently strips voting rights of all convicted felons, making them ineligible to perform duties such as voting or serving on a jury after they complete their prison sentence. The one legal exception to this permanent rollback is if the governor personally restores an individual\u2019s right to vote.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4671004\/abigail-spanberger-reinstate-voting-rights-66000-felons\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Spanberger reinstates 66,000 felons\u2019 voting rights<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4670657\/fbi-2020-rioter-helped-demolish-ice-facility\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>FBI still searching for 2020 rioter who helped demolish ICE facility<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4670679\/two-men-file-wrongful-arrest-lawsuit-nancy-guthrie-disappearance-case\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Two men to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fbi-still-searching-for-2020-rioter-who-demolished-ice-facility\/\" title=\"FBI still searching for 2020 rioter who demolished ICE facility\">file multimillion-dollar wrongful arrest lawsuit<\/a> in Nancy Guthrie disappearance case<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Spanberger\u2019s move marks a sharp contrast to the approach of her predecessor, Republican <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/glenn-youngkin\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1456\">Glenn Youngkin<\/a>, who restored the voting rights of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vpm.org\/news\/2026-07-31\/spanberger-voting-rights-restoration-youngkin-mcdonnell-mcauliffe-northam\">fewer than<\/a> 10,000 felons during his entire four years as governor. Youngkin moved to require felons released from prison to apply individually for the restoration of their voting rights, rather than having the administration automatically grant them.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Democratic governor aimed at Youngkin\u2019s policies in her announcement, saying his administration \u201cgutted\u201d the \u201cstreamlined\u201d automatic system used by several governors before him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m proud that \u2014 after contending with my predecessor\u2019s efforts to deny Virginians their fundamental rights \u2014 we have restored the rights of more than 66,000 Virginians who have served their time,\u201d Spanberger said in a statement. \u201cThese Virginians deserve the right to use their vote, make their voices heard, and be recognized as contributing citizens to our Commonwealth and country.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A spokesperson for Youngkin said that the then-governor believed in \u201csecond chances for Virginians who have made mistakes, but are working to move forward as active members of our citizenry\u201d in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/virginiamercury.com\/2023\/03\/23\/youngkin-administration-now-requires-felons-to-apply-to-get-their-voting-rights-back\/\">statement<\/a> given to <em>Virginia Mercury<\/em> in 2023.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Constitution places the responsibility to consider Virginians for restoration in the hands of the Governor alone, and he does not take this lightly,\u201d the Youngkin spokesperson <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/virginiamercury.com\/2023\/03\/23\/youngkin-administration-now-requires-felons-to-apply-to-get-their-voting-rights-back\/\">said<\/a> of his process at the time. \u201cRestoration of rights are assessed on an individual basis according to the law and take into consideration the unique elements of each situation, practicing grace for those who need it and ensuring public safety for our community and families.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Spanberger\u2019s announcement comes as Virginia voters prepare for a referendum on the issue in November. On the general election ballot, voters will be asked whether they support a constitutional amendment to restore voting rights automatically to Virginia felons once they are released from prison.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Spanberger made her support for the referendum clear in her Friday statement.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4653520\/abigail-spanberger-six-month-approval-rating\/\">ABIGAIL SPANBERGER DEFENDS RECORD AT SIX-MONTH MARK WITH APPROVAL RATING UNDERWATER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis fall, voters can cast their ballots for Virginia to no longer strip so many of our neighbors of their fundamental rights \u2014 a shameful relic of our Jim Crow past,\u201d Spanberger said. \u201cI hope Virginians will join me in voting yes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> has reached out to the Virginia GOP for comment.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Spanberger restores voting rights to 66,085 Virginians since taking office<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2638342,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26103450903679.jpeg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[33010,15293,32249,32570],"class_list":["post-2638341","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-criminal-justice","tag-felons","tag-spanberger","tag-voting-rights"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26103450903679.jpeg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2638341","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2638341"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2638341\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2638345,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2638341\/revisions\/2638345"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2638342"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2638341"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2638341"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2638341"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}