Virginia: Cumbersome, 'Horrible,' and in Need of Reform
In the Commonwealth of Virginia, where individuals with felony convictions are permanently banned from voting, several organizations are making an effort to educate and motivate eligible citizens to muster the arduous restoration process that requires action by the governor.
According to Sheri Iachetta, Charlottesville's general registrar, the restoration request process is time consuming and she even called the forms "horrible." The application for persons convicted of non-violent offenses is two pages; the application for those convicted of violent offenses is 12 pages. After waiting five years after all court obligations have been completed, a person convicted of a violent felony must obtain a burdensome collection of paperwork including:
- a letter from most recent probation or parole officer
- copies of pre- or post-sentence report
- certified copies of every order of conviction and sentencing orders
- three letters of reference
- a personal letter to the governor explaining convictions and how life has changed
"It's really a daunting procedure," Iachetta admitted to the C-Ville Weekly. The Virginia Organizing Project is planning to have 50 interns knock on 300,000 doors to hand out restoration applications in order to get people registered by the October 6 deadline and vote in November. The Virginia League of Women Voters is also dedicating its mission to vote restoration.
Kentucky: Left Out of History - Again
As Kentuckians hit the polls this week, many residents were unable to make their mark on history. Due to the Commonwealth's harsh felon disenfranchisement laws, citizens with felony convictions are permanently barred from voting - an "immense" impact on the state's electorate, according to Facing South. One out of every 17 Kentucky citizens is barred from voting and one out of every four African-American citizens in Kentucky is unable to vote. Of those barred, about 70% have completed their sentence.
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