Your vote should be something that government cannot take away. It's past time to start demanding the right to vote for everyone, and stop arguing about whether it is the governor or the legislature who should have the ability to decide who gets to vote and who doesn't. It's time to just say no to the idea that voting is a privilege to be granted to some class or subclass of Virginians at will. It is time to stop using the denial of the right to vote as a punishment.

The Virginia Constitution passed in 1902 declared that anyone with a felony conviction would lose the right to vote for life unless restored by the Governor. Sen. Thomas Norment has introduced SJ223 which makes it even more difficult for returning citizens to have their rights restored.

• Continues to say anyone convicted of any felony at any time can never vote again unless they meet certain criteria and follow certain procedures to ask for their rights back.
• Conditions the right to vote on full repayment of government fines, costs and user fees (including interest) — a modern day poll tax.
• Gives the legislature the ability to decide whether a felony is violent or nonviolent and to decide the terms on which people convicted of nonviolent felonies can get their right to vote back.
• Establishes very specific criteria for the governor to follow in deciding whether to give a person convicted of a violent felony their rights back, including a requirement that a person wait five years after all fines, fees and costs are paid before even asking for their rights back.

We oppose SJ 223 but support SJ319 patroned by Sen. Mamie Locke. SJ319 would give Virginians a constitutionally protected right to vote for all Virginia residents who are U.S. citizens aged 18 and older. The resolution would give voters the chance to repeal the Jim Crow-era felon disenfranchisement provision in the Virginia Constitution and grant every Virginian a right to vote that cannot be taken away by the Legislature. This bill enshrines the right to vote in the Constitution without limit or condition.

Write a letter to your Virginia State Senator asking them to oppose SJ 223 and support SJ319.