Virginia Lawmakers Ask Voters to Repeal Jim Crow-Era Lifetime Ban on Voting

[In It to Win It]

https://boltsmag.org/virginia-constitutional-amendment-to-repeal-lifetime-ban-on-voting/

Voting rights advocates have sought for decades to reverse Virginia’s lifetime ban on voting for people with felony convictions, a 124-year-old Jim Crow relic designed to uphold white supremacy. In a historic move this week, the state legislature advanced a constitutional amendment to repeal the ban.

Democratic lawmakers on Friday voted to place a measure on the ballot this year to automatically restore voting rights to people when they exit prison.

If passed by voters, the amendment would eliminate the state’s current, uniquely harsh system: Virginia is today the only U.S. state or territory where anyone convicted of any felony loses their right to vote for life, unless it is personally restored by the governor.

“When I was born, my uncle was in the House of Delegates and they were fighting for this,” Delegate Marcia Price, who is 45, told Bolts on Wednesday, moments before the Virginia House passed the amendment. “It’s time. It’s time for us to have an automatic process. It’s time for us to not be the only state in the union that is doing this to people.”

JUST IN: Virginia's legislature just adopted a constitutional amendment that would end Virginia's rules that ban people from voting for life.

Virginia currently is the only state that strips people of voting rights for life for any felony. Youngkin rolled back reforms.

Now going to a referendum.

— Taniel (@taniel.bsky.social) 2026-01-16T18:21:11.929Z

[efhmc]

1. For life?

[GCG]

2. I live in Virginia

While I don't agree with the one size fits all solution that was decided on in 1902 and was based on the views of a racist...I'm not inclined to agree that another one size fits all solution should be implemented now.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

3. do tell